More money available for SPRUCE urban regeneration fund

A Scottish Government fund which provides loans towards regeneration and energy efficiency schemes across Scotland has been so successful that more money is now available.

The SPRUCE Fund (Scottish Partnership for Regeneration in Urban Centres) initially invested loans totalling £50 million in support of urban regeneration.

One project to have benefitted from a SPRUCE loan of £5m was a district heating project in Broomhill.

As those loans are starting to be repaid and some ahead of time, the investment can be recycled and used to deliver further regeneration projects.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart today announced £8.9m to support refurbished office space in central Edinburgh.

Visiting the development at Greenside, Mr Stewart said: “I’m really pleased to be here today to see the work to transform Greenside, perhaps better known in Edinburgh as the former headquarters of Scottish Equitable. When it’s completed it’ll provide modern, innovative and energy efficient offices on a UNESCO heritage site.

“But even before then we will see significant regeneration outcomes - during construction, the project is expected to support 39 apprenticeships and training opportunities. When complete, the building has a capacity to support 425 office jobs for local people.

“What makes this investment so exciting is that the SPRUCE fund has already provided £50m to regenerate urban areas and it’s been so successful, we have added a further £15m to the pot. SPRUCE loans are now being recycled with the repayments being used to deliver yet more new infrastructure, supporting the economy and jobs and transforming our communities for the better.”