£90m Growth Deal could lead to faster infrastructure improvements across Falkirk
HM Treasury promised the acceleration among several measures it hopes will lead to faster investment in areas such as infrastructure improvements to support sustainable travel, tourism and energy across Scotland.
Projects that will be part of Falkirk s Growth Deal - which is part-funded by both Westminster and the Scottish Government - include a centre for excellence in green bus technology including hydrogen, community owned solar energy, green routeways and an outdoor art park.
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Hide AdThe deal also hopes to deliver a sustainable manufacturing campus in Grangemouth focusing on capturing and using carbon and industrial biotechnology such as producing fuel from whisky waste and sugar beets.
A Falkirk Council spokesperson said: "This will advance Falkirk and Scotland’s economic recovery and revitalise our town centres with a transport interchange in the centre of Falkirk and new tourism development on our canals."
Falkirk Council leader Cecil Meiklejohn said: “We welcome the announcement that the funding coming to Falkirk will be accelerated.
"Delivering over a 10-year rather than a 15-year period will ensure the Falkirk area comes out of the current crisis well prepared to make a strong economic recovery.
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Hide Ad“COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on our health, wellbeing and economy in 2020.
"Along with our partners, we are fully committed to focusing our plans on net zero and will ensure that once the current crisis is behind us, we can focus on creating a prosperous and sustainable future for all.”