Region all set to seal £90m deal
Stirling and Clackmannanshire’s £90million City Regional Deal is due to be signed today (Wednesday).
Financed by the UK and Scottish governments, it is also hoped other partners from across the two areas will supplement their commitments by unlocking investment of additional sums of more than £100 million over the term of the deal.
A heads of terms agreement for the deal was signed on May 31, 2018, setting out a list of financial pledges to develop several areas.
These include: aquaculture and environmental management, digital, culture and tourism, skills and inclusion, infrastructure, transport, connectivity and the region’s carbon footprint.
The bulk of this money is expected to have a direct impact on Stirling with significant investment into the world leading Aquaculture centre at Stirling University, development of the MoD site at Forthside and the building of the National Tartan Centre.
The deal is expected to be signed by figures including the leaders of both councils, Westminster and Scottish Government representatives, and Stirling University at a ceremony in Forth
Valley College in Raploch.
Stirling Council leader Scott Farmer and chief executive Carol Beattie toured some of the projects and areas earmarked in the deal over the last few days, accompanied by new Stirling MP Alyn Smith.
They visited the proposed City Park site, the planned Kildean business park site and the site marked for the new Tartan Centre. They also visited the Barracks in the city centre - the former military site, now used to house office space, predominantly for third sector organisations.
Alyn Smith MP said: “The City Region Deal offers a range of exciting investment opportunities for the whole area. It’s now been years in the making, and it’s high time it was signed off so that these plans can finally be delivered.
“From funding to support our tourism, culture and heritage sector, to investment into aquaculture and the local digital economy, this offers transformational change to the area, and I want every community to feel the benefit.”