Communities across Sutherland are set to receive up to £20m of long term investment after the area was confirmed as a recipient of UK Government Pride in Place funding over the next ten years.
The funding will see £2m per year directed into North, West and East Sutherland, with local people given a direct role in deciding how the money is spent and which projects are prioritised.
The Pride in Place Programme is designed to support long term community renewal, allowing areas to plan beyond short term fixes and invest in services, facilities, housing, economic opportunity and local spaces that improve everyday life.
The UK Government says the programme offers stability and certainty, giving communities the confidence to shape their own future and focus on lasting change.
Sutherland’s allocation forms part of a wider £280m investment across Scotland and a £2bn UK wide commitment aimed at supporting neighbourhoods facing long standing challenges.
For communities in Sutherland, the funding arrives at a time when local services are under significant strain, with Highland Council facing a substantial budget shortfall and pressure on frontline provision.
Scottish Labour candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Eva Kestner, welcomed the announcement.
“I warmly welcome the announcement of £20 million of Pride in Place funding for North, West and East Sutherland.
“This is the investment these communities have long deserved.”
She said the funding would allow communities to plan with confidence.
“This funding will allow people in Sutherland to plan for the long term and deliver the improvements they want to see in their own places.
“Pride in Place is about local empowerment, pride in our communities, and renewal.
“I’m looking forward to hearing ideas from residents, community groups and councillors to make sure this investment reflects Sutherland’s ambitions and helps unlock opportunities right across the Highlands.”
The Sutherland funding sits alongside a wider package of UK Government investment across the Highlands, including support through City Region Deals, infrastructure funding and regeneration projects aimed at improving services, creating jobs and supporting sustainable growth.
Recent allocations across the region include funding for transport infrastructure, digital connectivity, business innovation, renewable energy and community owned assets.
The Pride in Place investment is expected to be shaped locally over the coming months, with communities encouraged to put forward ideas and priorities that reflect local need and ambition.
