The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
£1.3bn City Deal signed off by Prime Minister
Cash to help create ‘factories of the future’
Fife Council has welcomed £1.3 billion of investment in south-east Scotland signed off by Theresa May.
Despite earlier criticism that the kingdom had been sidelined, council leader David Ross said the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal would help the kingdom create “factories of the future”.
The drive to promote economic growth and boost jobs was officially signed by the prime minister during her visit to the Edinburgh Festival yesterday.
It includes £350m for five new innovation centres south of the Forth, £20m for a concert hall in Edinburgh and £140m for a city bypass at Sheriffhall roundabout and other transport upgrades.
A total of £35m is bound for Fife, where an industrial estates regeneration programme will be funded, and house building investment of £65m will be shared by a site in Dunfermline.
However, the deal leaves out Fife Council priorities for investment, upgrading the A92 and re-establishing the Levenmouth rail link.
As terms were signed by council leaders last year, Mr Ross voiced disappointment in contents described as capital-focused.
Yesterday he said: “This ambitious city region deal identifies new and more collaborative ways that partners will work with UK and Scottish governments to boost the regional economy.
“We will work with university partners to harness their world-leading expertise in data driven innovation to deliver cutting-edge industrial premises to enable Fife businesses become more competitive.
“The ambition is to develop ‘factories of the future’ by constructing new industrial and commercial stock and ensure Fife’s technology parks and industrial estates have cutting-edge digital capability and are energy compliant. This means Fife businesses will be able to deliver a stronger, more innovative business community, with more employers and jobs.”
Council co-leader David Alexander said: “With a real need to create more skilled jobs, boost businesses and develop more highly skilled workers, this city region deal is driving inclusive growth.
“Through working closely with partners we are developing new approaches to stimulating innovation across digital and data driven technologies.”