Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Long-awaited £700m Tay Cities Deal to be signed today
THE long-awaited £700 million Tay Cities Region Deal will be formally signed later today.
The deal is an agreement between the UK and Scottish governments, and Angus, Dundee City, Fife and Perth and Kinross councils, along with the business and higher and further education sectors.
The two governments have pledged £300m which will help to lever a further £400m of investment, and is expected to bring more than 6,000 new job opportunities.
The document will be signed by partners today at an online signing ceremony in line with Covid-19 restrictions.
Secretary of State for Scotland Iain Stewart said: “Today’s landmark signing will deliver transformative investment to the entire Tay region, including £150m from the UK Government.
“The deal will create thousands of jobs through innovative projects such as cutting-edge forensic science at the University of Dundee and a drone port at Montrose.
“Investments in Perth City Hall transformation and Innerpeffray Library, Scotland’s oldest lending library, will also enhance the region’s culture and tourism offering.
“This is the seventh full deal we have signed in Scotland and we now have deals in implementation or development for all of Scotland, representing investment from the UK Government of over £1.5 billion.”
Scottish Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “I am delighted to sign the Tay Cities Region Deal and confirm our £150m investment at a time of unprecedented need.
“The commitments we have made with our partners today will help deliver sustainable, inclusive growth in the region through funding for skills, connectivity and innovation, and make a crucial contribution to economic recovery and renewal in the years to come.
“In these uncertain times, these investments will deliver much needed jobs across the region. I’m pleased that the projects delivered through the deal can now get underway and start delivering real benefits for local people and businesses.”