Bids welcome for £430k fund to revive Moray town centres

Funded by the Scottish Government, the Moray Town Centre Capital Fund is available to business to help with the costs of transforming large retail spaces in the region into smaller units within the town centres of Elgin, Forres, Buckie, Lossiemouth and Keith.

Moray Council is administering the fund, and could award grants of up to 50% of eligible costs, capped at £50k.

Grants are also available to support projects turning empty properties into residential or student accommodation.

This scheme is open to applicants looking to undertake projects in Lhanbryde, Burghead, Hopeman, Dufftown, Kinloss, Cullen, Aberlour, Rothes, Portknockie, Findochty and Mosstodloch. Up to 25% of eligible costs could be funded, capped at £50k, to cover structural works, replacing windows, re-wiring and creating new entrances to properties.

Leader of Moray Council, and Chair of its Economic Growth, Housing and Environmental Sustainability Committee, Cllr Graham Leadbitter, said: “Our town centres are taking a big hit as a result of the pandemic and the much-reduced economic activity in our high streets, which is why this funding has been put in place by the Scottish Government.

“I am very pleased that Moray is receiving several hundred thousand pounds from the fund, as we have a long road of recovery ahead and this will offer some early opportunities for investment to help kick-start that.

“It forms an important part of our broader economic recovery work that we are pushing on with in partnership with other public bodies such as Highlands & Islands Enterprise.”

The deadline for applications is 14 November 2020, and more information is available on Moray Council’s website.