North, West and East Sutherland will receive up to £20m of long term regeneration funding after The Highland Council confirmed the area has been selected for support through the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme.
The funding, which will be delivered over the next 10 years, is intended to support communities facing long standing social and economic challenges by giving local people direct control over how investment is spent.
The Highland Council said confirmation of the award was received from Kirsty McNeill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland.
Council leader Raymond Bremner said the decision followed a consultative process that considered evidence from a wide range of local stakeholders across the Sutherland area.
The Pride in Place Programme will provide £2m per year for a decade, allowing communities to plan long term projects rather than relying on short term funding cycles.
The programme is designed to put residents at the centre of decision making, with communities deciding which projects matter most to them and how funding should be used.
It also aims to support skills development and local capacity building, giving people the confidence and support needed to deliver change in their own areas.
The Highland Council says the certainty of funding over 10 years is a key strength of the programme, particularly for rural and remote communities where sustained investment has often been difficult to secure.
Raymond Bremner, Leader of The Highland Council, said:
“We have received confirmation from Kirsty McNeill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland that the North, West and East Sutherland Neighbourhood has been identified as the neighbourhood within Highland Council area to receive PiPP funding.
“I am very pleased to confirm that the North, West and East Sutherland Neighbourhood will receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next 10 years.”
The council said it now looks forward to receiving further detail from the UK Government on how the programme will be delivered and how communities can begin shaping their priorities.
The Pride in Place Programme builds on the UK Government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods, which was announced in March 2025.
Under the expanded programme, almost 250 of the most in need neighbourhoods across Great Britain are expected to benefit from similar long term funding arrangements.
The Highland Council says the investment presents a significant opportunity for North, West and East Sutherland to support regeneration projects that reflect local needs and ambitions.
Council officials say the focus will be on ensuring the funding delivers practical improvements that strengthen communities and improve quality of life over the next decade.
The award comes at a time when many rural areas continue to face pressures around services, infrastructure and population change.
The council believes the programme has the potential to help address these challenges by giving communities the resources and control needed to shape their own futures.
