Edinburgh and south east Scotland have secured a £1.1bn City Deal from the UK and Scottish governments.
- Key commitments from the deal include:
- £300m for data innovation centres
- £140m for the A720 city bypass and transport improvements across west Edinburgh
- £20m capital funding for a new concert hall in St Andrew Square
- £25m regional skills programme to support improved career opportunities for disadvantaged groups
- £65m of new funding for housing to unlock strategic development sites.
The UK and Scottish governments are each investing £600m over the next 15 years in the project. Contributions from councils and universities will bring the total investment in the deal to £1.1bn.
Timothy O’Shea, principal of the University of Edinburgh said: “Our research in new data technologies and the skills of our graduates have helped establish Edinburgh over the last decade as one of the main centres of the digital economy in the UK. The City Deal provides the impetus to move to the next level: a transformational programme of data-driven innovation which will harness the power of data technologies across the economy, from healthcare to agriculture, robotics, public services, finance and the creative industries, and equip many more of our young people from all backgrounds to succeed in the digital economy.
“Our aim is to help establish the region as the Data Capital of Europe, drawing in inward investment, fuelling entrepreneurship, and delivering inclusive economic growth.”
To send feedback, e-mail Louisa.Clarence-Smith@egi.co.uk or tweet @LouisaClarence or @estatesgazette
