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A £9.1 million plan to revitalise the Newton industrial district of Stornoway has received a third of the cash required.

 

Breathing fresh life into derelict and rundown buildings, attracting growing businesses and creating new jobs is the aim of the ambitious initiative.

 

Modern workshops, business spaces and facilities are to be created from reclaimed and improved long-term derelict land and buildings in Newton.

 

Start-up enterprises and small businesses can move into the revived area, investing in their own growth and expanding their workforce.

 

In the medium term the equivalent of 40 full time posts could be created in addition to the employment from the construction work.

 

Redeveloping the Goat Island area also comes under the wing of the project with Stornoway Port Authority advancing development proposals.

 

The plans are the first phase of a wider Stornoway regeneration programme.

 

Some £2.3 million has been awarded from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF).

 

The comhairle is putting up £1 million of match funding towards the project.

 

Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart said: “I’m really pleased that this fantastic, locally-driven project will benefit from an injection of funding. It will help regenerate the local area, stimulate inclusive growth and create new jobs.

 

“The focus of the projects being funded this year range from tackling social isolation, mitigating welfare cuts, providing training opportunities, creating business space and increasing tourism – to name but a few.

 

“They are an excellent example of how national and local government are working together on shared priorities that benefit local communities.”

 

Donald Crichton, chairman of the comhairle’s sustainable development committee said: “The comhairle recognises that Stornoway’s Newton area, including Goat Island, has suffered dereliction through a lack of investment over a number of years.”

 

He said the money will help deliver projects that “create sustainable employment and also improve the visual blight affecting the local community.”

 

 

 

Step forward for Newton regeneration plan

11 March 2018