The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
The view from the top: details of £200m bid to forge ‘world-class’ city
Civic centre and digital hub part of ‘ambitious plan’
Civic leaders in Stirling announced yesterday that they are drawing up a £200 million plan to “reposition the city as an economic and cultural powerhouse at the heart of Scotland”.
The plan is being drawn up in association with public and private sector bodies and the Stirling City Commission, which was set up at the start of the year.
The scheme’s stated aim is to make Scotland’s ancient capital a “world-class centre of innovation and excellence for key sectors, a thriving cultural hub, and a vibrant and cosmopolitan place to live and work”.
Councillors will be asked next week to give the go-ahead for the plan to be developed further, before a final version with business and funding proposals goes before the full council in October.
The commission published a six-point plan to boost economic growth and creating high-quality jobs. The plan’s goals are: A digital hub that would “be a seedbed of product development and cutting-edge technology, and would position Stirling as a leader in digital technologies” A revitalised cultural quarter A new civic and creative centre A new city parkland in the shadow of Stirling Castle
An innovative market all-weather performance area
“knowledgehub” providing state-ofthe-art business incubation space, and working closely with higher and further education.
Tory councillor Neil Benny, who is deputy council leader and chairman of the finance and economy committee, told The Courier: “This is a great way to ensure
space/ that Stirling can compete in the modern world and really make it a place that people want to live in, set up businesses in and come to visit.
“With this plan,I am optimistic for Stirling’s future.”
Labour’s Johanna Boyd, council leader and chairperson of the Stirling City Commission, said the plan is key to the city’s future.
She said: “Stirling is an incredible place with much to offer, but to flourish in an increasingly competitive global economic environment, we need to be bold and committed.
“This ambitious plan is designed to reposition Stirling as an economic and cultural powerhouse, building on our unique advantages, advancing investment opportunities and encouraging diversification and growth for the benefit of all our citizens and communities.”