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Policy

Cities and regions

From
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, +1 more … Minister for Employment and Investment
Directorate
Economic Development Directorate
Topic
Building, planning and design, Business, industry and innovation, Economy
Policy actions  2 of 5

City Region Deals

City Region Deals are packages of funding agreed between the Scottish Government, the UK Government and local partners. They are designed to bring about long-term strategic approaches to improving regional economies, aiming to help harness additional investment, create new jobs and accelerate inclusive economic growth.

City Region Deals are implemented by regional partners and overseen by the Scottish City Region and Growth Deal Delivery Board.

Each deal is tailored to its region, reflecting its individual economic strengths and weaknesses, and comprises a programme of interventions to support positive, transformative change.

We develop and deliver these interventions by working with partners drawn from the broader public sector, such as Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland, as well as from businesses, colleges and universities.

City Region and Growth Deals have now been announced for every part of Scotland, with the Scottish Government investment totalling more than £1.9 billion. 

There are six City Region Deals in Scotland:

Current deals

Glasgow City Region

We are investing £520 million in the £1.2 billion Glasgow City Region Deal, which includes commitments from the UK Government and eight local neighbouring authorities across Glasgow and the Clyde Valley. 

Signed in 2014, the deal supports the region to achieve its long-term vision for the local economy, through projects focusing on infrastructure, skills and employment and business growth and innovation.

Our investments include £500 million for critical infrastructure improvements, improving public transport and connectivity, and £20 million to create a ground-breaking medical research & commercialisation facility, developing new products and services in the life science sector.

Regional partners estimate that over its lifetime, the deal will deliver around 29,000 jobs and attract around £3.3 billion of private sector investment.

Find out more about the Glasgow City Region Deal.

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

We committed to invest up to £125 million in the Aberdeen City Region Deal, matched by the UK Government. Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Councils, Opportunity North East, other regional partners and the private sector have committed up to £44 million.

The deal, signed in 2016, aims to encourage investment in innovation, internationalisation, digital connectivity, and infrastructure across the region. Our investments includes £90 million to support the Oil and Gas Technology Centre, and £15 million towards new innovation hubs focusing on research, development and growth in the life sciences and food and drink sectors.

Alongside the deal, we are committed to invest a further £254 million in the North East over the same timeframe. Our additional investments will deliver improved transport and broadband networks, and local housing programmes.

Find out more about the Aberdeen City Region Deal.

Inverness and Highlands 

We have committed up to £135 million to the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal. The UK Government has committed up to £53 million, supplemented by up to £127 million from the Highland council and regional partners.

Signed in 2017, the deal seeks to boost key sectors such as tourism and life sciences, realise ambitions of becoming the best digitally connected rural region in Europe and promote innovation and internationalisation, creating new well-paid jobs that will help retain and attract young people to the region.

Our investments include £15 million for redevelopment of Inverness Castle into a “must-see” attraction showcasing the culture and heritage of the whole region and £5 million for targeted affordable housing projects across the region.

Partners estimate that £800 million in private sector investment will be leveraged over the life of the deal, while also creating 1,125 direct jobs, with a further 2,200 temporary jobs being created in construction”.

Find out more about the Inverness and Highlands City Region Deal.

Edinburgh and South East Scotland 

We committed to invest £300 million in the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal, with investments from UK Government of £300 million, and further commitments from partners from six local authorities, universities and colleges, and the private and third sectors.

The deal, signed in 2018, will deliver improvements in innovation, housing, critical infrastructure and a new skills programme, unlocking access to good opportunities for people across the region.

Our investments include £10 million to support cutting edge research in future technologies, putting the region at the forefront of data-driven innovation, £45 million to support and enable construction of 41,000 new homes across the region and £25 million for a skills programme that will improve the skills of an estimated 14,700 people.

Find out more about the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal

Stirling and Clackmannanshire

Both we and the UK Government have committed up to £45.1 million each towards the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal. Regional partners will match this investment with up to £123.8 million, resulting in a deal worth over £214 million.

Signed in 2020, the deal aims to create higher value jobs, investing in the creation of green innovations, digital entrepreneurship and cultural opportunities to deliver a more diverse regional economy, whilst widening access to opportunity and supporting inclusion.

Our investments include £15 million to support culture, tourism and heritage across the region, £4 million to enhance digital connectivity in both urban and rural areas, and over £9 million to projects that enhance skills, active travel and planning for the use of green energy.

We have also committed a further £5 million investment into the region, which will support the delivery of enabling infrastructure at Callander and Kildean. Our total investment in the region has the potential to deliver 1,500 new jobs and £275 million of private sector leverage.

Find out more about the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal

Tay Cities Region Deal

The Tay Cities Region Deal will deliver more than £700 million to the region, including £150 million each from the Scottish Government and the UK Government. Together with regional partners’ contribution, this deal has the potential to secure more than 6,000 jobs and attract £400 million of investment.

Signed in 2020, the deal seeks to transform the region by focusing on inclusion, innovation, internationalisation, connectivity and empowerment, and supports projects which aim to promote inclusive economic growth across the region..

Our investments include £20 million in a skills and employability programme, £25 million to grow the region’s biomedical sector and £37 million to support the region’s culture and tourism offerings.

We have also confirmed a further £50 million for the region, which will be invested in the Cross Tay Link Road and an industrial investment programme to support manufacturing businesses.

Find out more about the Tay Cities Region Deal

Read more about the additional funding committed by Scottish Government.

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