Millions of pounds of investment by the Scottish Government in schools, hospitals, housing, transport and communications infrastructure projects has delivered some 40,000 jobs across Scotland over the last year.
The news was revealed by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday.
In 2013, 18 infrastructure projects, worth £400m, completed construction and are now in use. This includes four health centres, seven schools and two major transport projects.
Work has also been completed on a further four infrastructure projects, worth £225m, which will be available to communities by the end of March 2014.
The findings are included in the Scottish Government's second annual progress report of the multi-billion pound Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) which has just been published.
It is understood investment by the Scottish Government in infrastructure projects is set to top £8bn between 2014/15 and 2015/16. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlined the detail of the progress report as she visited the site of East Kilbride's new 6300 sq ft Hunter Health Centre. The facility is part of an overall investment of £51m and includes health centres in Wishaw and Kilsyth.
The health centre, which will include six existing GP practices, one general dental practice, podiatry, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, all community treatment room activity, mental health, phlebotomy, public health nurses and long term condition nurses, is due for completion in summer 2015.
Minister Sturgeon is quoted as saying: "This Government is determined to invest in Scotland's schools, hospitals, housing, transport and communication infrastructure – both to stimulate growth in the short term and lay the foundations for long term success.
"Infrastructure investment over 2013/14 is estimated to have supported some 40,000 jobs in communities across Scotland. That is good news for our economy and our construction industry, which we know benefits from the certainty and vision of the future the Infrastructure Investment Plan provides.
"Today's progress report and updated pipeline shows that significant progress has been made across all sectors over the past year. This is despite substantial cuts in our capital budget from Westminster of some 27 per cent in real terms between 2010/11 and 2015/16."
(JP/IT)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
26/11/2024
Scottish Water has unveiled its largest-ever procurement initiative, aiming to modernise the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure while safeguarding the environment. The program, named Delivery Vehicle 4, is valued between £5 billion and £9 billion and is set to run from 2027 to 2033, with ...
26/11/2024
The City of Edinburgh Council has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the refurbishment of Calton Square, an office building currently occupied by Baillie Gifford until the end of December 2025. Promoted by Ardstone Capital on behalf of Manova Partners, the project aims to ...
26/11/2024
First Minister John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, praised the progress being made on the construction of the new Perth High School during a visit on Friday, 22 November. He was joined by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, alongside senior Perth and Kinross Councillors, ...
26/11/2024
A state-of-the-art playpark has officially opened at King George V Park in Bearsden, following the completion of a £100,000 refurbishment. Funded by a combination of East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) Capital Funding and the Scottish Government’s Renewing Scotland’s Play Parks initiative, the ...
26/11/2024
Fife Council has launched a public consultation, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute ideas and propose sites for inclusion in the next Local Development Plan, known as Fife's Place Plan. The council is calling on community councils, landowners, and developers to share ...
26/11/2024
The Chief Executive of East Lothian Council has announced she is to retire in February 2025. Monica Patterson who has been Chief Executive for almost five years, has spent most of her professional career working in local government. Prior to joining East Lothian Council in 2010, she was Head of ...
25/11/2024
West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) and Connect Modular have jointly submitted a planning application to Glasgow City Council for the development of 33 affordable homes in Cowlairs. This project aligns with the wider Cowlairs Park regeneration scheme and the city's ambitious housing ...
25/11/2024
Arc-Tech (Scotland) has successfully completed a £6m Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services package for the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. The state-of-the-art resort, which opened its doors earlier this month, features a range of amenities, including a wave pool, luxury lodges, and ...
25/11/2024
Scottish Water has successfully completed the construction of a groundbreaking hydro energy generation scheme at Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian. This innovative project, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe, will harness the power of water to offset a significant portion of the ...
25/11/2024
Work is set to commence on a £6.5 million project to upgrade the Double Dykes Gypsy/Traveller site near Perth. The initiative aims to replace outdated chalets with modern, energy-efficient accommodation and implement significant site improvements. Perth & Kinross Council secured £3.9 million from ...