Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced over £6 million of funding to help preserve Scotland's historic town centres.

Seven communities will benefit from the £6.2m boost via the latest round of Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) funding.

Projects in Rothesay, Penicuik, Union Street in Aberdeen, Cockenzie, Jedburgh, Maybole and Dunoon will receive money to help them regenerate and attract further investment in the future.

The CARS funding programme specifically targets conservation areas with social and economic disadvantages that make it difficult to attract investment in sustainable regeneration.


The scheme assists these areas through channelling funding towards opportunities to enhance sustainable economic growth and help support projects that develop an area's sense of place.

Funding can be utilised for a number of purposes from the repair of priority properties and small grants to homeowners and retailers, to providing traditional craft training opportunities.

Announcing the funding during a visit to Falkirk, HES Chief Executive Alex Paterson said: "Preserving the built heritage of our town centres is a hugely important part of this, because investment in our historic environment is key to supporting improved quality of life for many people across Scotland, and it has been great to see this in action today in Falkirk. The council's aim has been to create a high quality urban environment where people will want to spend their time and money, and the progress they've made to date is fantastic.

"It's my pleasure to announce Round 7 today, as this funding will enable seven more communities up and down the country to breathe new life into their historic town and city centres, encouraging further investment, creating new employment opportunities, and boosting the local tourism industry."

(LM/MH)