Michael Matheson

The Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) and Capital Spending Review, both published yesterday, confirm a five year plan of investment that will support 45,000 jobs and build healthcare facilities, schools and local facilities across Scotland.

A further £2bn has been added to the plan since the draft version was published in September and new funding announcements include £110 million for digital public services transformation, £50m for Active Freeways and £60m for climate adaptation of the trunk road network.

The Scottish Government is allocating £2.3bn for healthcare, including the £204m additional funding for The Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR centre in Aberdeen as well as the Grampian, Perth and Kirkcaldy elective facilities, and £67m for the provision of a new health and social care community hub in Parkhead

It has also announced £2bn for education and learning facilities, including a new city centre primary school and a new Gaelic school in Glasgow, with up to £90m towards the Dunfermline Learning Campus.

At the same time, significant investment will be provided to strengthen connectivity across Scotland with £600m for the R100 programme
Around £1.5bn will be put towards transport, including £550m for rail decarbonisation, over £500m for bus priority, over £550m for active travel infrastructure projects and £287m for the Future Transport Fund.

Measures to support climate adaptation include £150m additional funding for flood risk management and £12m for coastal change adaptation

Michael Matheson, infrastructure secretary, said: “Since we published our draft IIP in September, we have received broad support for our world-leading approach and have increased the total spend by £2bn to further boost our economic and green recovery from the pandemic.

“Our overall focus is on driving inclusive economic growth, the transition to net zero, and building resilient and sustainable places. This package of significant investment will support economic confidence in every corner of Scotland and send out a clear message that we will continue to do all we can to secure our recovery from coronavirus. In the process we will also be supporting over 45,000 jobs and building a strong future for Scotland.”