(Press release issued on behalf of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council, and the Scottish and UK Governments)
A £100 million investment in the future economic prosperity of Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides was agreed today, as representatives of the UK and Scottish governments joined the Leaders of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Orkney Islands Council, and Shetland Island Council to sign the Heads of Terms for the Islands Growth Deal.
The agreement commits both governments to work collaboratively with Islands Deal partners to deliver a deal focused on: placing the islands at the forefront of the transition to net zero; supporting growth in key sectors of opportunity such as tourism, food and drink, space and creative industries; and, supporting thriving, sustainable communities.
The Islands Growth Deal will capitalise on the Islands’ unique assets with an investment of £50 million each from the Scottish and UK Governments and an anticipated £235 million from project partners. The 10-year programme of investment has the ambitious target of creating up to 1,300 jobs and tackling the depopulation concerns facing many parts of the 3 island archipelagos. Partners will now be working towards the development of Full Business Cases for approval by both Governments, with the anticipation of funding being approved and released from 2022/23 onwards.
Iain Stewart MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, said:
“Today we have signed a transformational deal which will bring jobs, investment and innovation to communities across all three island areas.
“These exciting plans show the path to a fairer, more sustainable, more prosperous future as we build back better from the pandemic.
“The UK Government’s £50 million investment will boost green jobs and innovation in: sustainable energy, health, tourism, food and drink, and decarbonisation.
“Across Scotland we have committed more than £1.5 billion to Growth Deals.”
Speaking following the virtual signing, Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said:
“I am pleased to be signing the Heads of Terms agreement for the Islands Growth Deal, confirming that the Scottish Government will invest £50 million in the region over the next 10 years to deliver sustainable growth and support economic recovery.
“The projects supported through this Deal will focus on retaining and attracting young people in our island communities, encouraging new visitors, boosting innovation and skills, growing key sectors like food and drink and the creative industries, and building the infrastructure and expertise needed to capitalise on renewable energy opportunities.
“The Deal will deliver projects shaped by local people and local priorities that will re-invigorate the island economies, create high value jobs and build strategically for their long term growth and prosperity.”
Cllr Roddie Mackay, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said:
“We are delighted to have reached this stage in the process, and to have secured this level of investment through the deal, which represents the highest per capita investment of any of the Scottish growth deals. Both UK and Scottish Government have recognised the significant assets and growth potential our islands have in areas such as renewable energy resource, food and drink, and tourism. Their commitment to invest in the Islands Deal projects will strengthen the contribution our islands make to the national economy, and help address the challenges our island communities face, particularly as we now emerge from COVID-19.”
Cllr James Stockan, Leader of Orkney Islands Council, said:
“The signing of this deal seals a significant opportunity for our three island areas to further showcase our promise, our worth and our uniqueness - not just within the United Kingdom, but to the rest of the world. The investment through this enhanced deal opens up a range of opportunities for growth that otherwise would not have been possible, of vital importance given these ongoing challenging times. The Deal today will help us harness our potential moving forward, not just as a single island authority, but also unlocking even further gains to be had by working collaboratively with fellow island communities and further afield.
Cllr Steven Coutts, Leader of Shetland Islands Council, said:
“Our ambitious deal proposals will provide significant economic growth in our islands. We can be confident that this investment in key projects will deliver lasting benefit for our island communities, Scotland and the UK. The signing of the Heads of Terms today signals the collective commitment to see our islands as the attractive place to live, work, study and invest we know them to be.”
The multi-million pound investment will be shared across the following projects.
Leading the way to a low carbon future
- Islands Centre for Net Zero
- Scapa Flow Future Fuels Hub Project
- Outer Hebrides Energy Hub
- Shetland Clean Energy Project (inc in ICNZ)
- Dales Voe Ultra Deep Water Port
Supporting Growth and Future Industries
- Creative Islands Wellbeing
- Outer Hebrides Destination Development
- Orkney World Heritage Gateway
- Orkney Community Vertical Farm
- Shell-Volution
- Outer Hebrides Food and Drink Programme
- Shetland Space Innovation Campus
- Spaceport1
Thriving Sustainable Communities
- TalEntEd Islands programme
- Orkney Research and Innovation Campus
- Shetland Campus Redevelopment
- Outer Hebrides Campus Redevelopment
- Knab Redevelopment
Notes to Editors:
- Following the Islands Growth signing of the Deal, the full Heads of Terms document will be available to view here-: https://cne-siar.gov.uk/your-council/our-islands-our-future/islands-growth-deal/
Làmh-sgrìobhaidh ga chur ri cùmhnant fàs do dh’Arcaibh, Sealltainn agus Innse Gall a’ fuasgladh in-thasgadh de £335 millean
Chaidh aontachadh an-diugh ri in-thasgadh de £100 millean ann an soirbheachas eaconamach san àm ri teachd do dh’Arcaibh, Sealltainn agus Innse Gall, le riochdairean bho Riaghaltas an Rìoghachd Aonaichte, Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ tighinn còmhla ri Ceannardan Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar, Comhairle Eileanan Arcaibh agus Comhairle Eileanan Shealltainn a cur an làmh-sgrìobhaidh ri Teirmean Rùintean airson Cùmhnant Fàs nan Eilean.
Tha an aonta a daingneachadh gun co-obraich gach riaghaltas le com-pàirtichean Chùmhnant nan Eilean ann a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh cùmhnant le fòcas air: na h-eileanan a bhith air thoiseach a thaobh atharrachadh gu neo-ni eimisean; taic d dh’fhàs anns na prìomh roinnean chothruim mar turasachd, biadh is deoch, fànas agus gnìomhachasan cruthachail; agus taic a chumail ri coimhearsnachdan beothail, seasmhach.
Bidh Cùmhnant Fàs nan Eilean a’ toirt buannachd à so-mhaoin shònraichte nan eilean le in-thasgadh de £50 millean bhon dà chuid Riaghaltas an Rìoghachd Aonaichte agus Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus dùil ri £235 millean eile bho chom-pàirtichean air pròiseactan. Tha targaid àrd-amasach aig a’ phrògram in-thasgaidh 10-blidhan gu suas ri 1300 cosnadh a stèidheachadh agus a’ dèiligeadh ri iomagain mu crìonadh sluaigh a tha bualadh air iomadh ceàrnaidh de na 3 sgìrean eileanach. Bidh luchd comp-pàirt a-nis ag ullachadh Làn Chùisean Gnothachais airson aonta gach Riaghaltas, le dùil gun deidheadh aontachadh ri maoineachadh a bhith air a sgaoileadh bho 2022/23.
Thuirt Iain Stewart MP, Fo-rùnaire na Stàit an Alba:
“An-diugh chur sinn làmh-sgrìobhaidh ri cùmhnant atharrachaidh a tharraingeas obraichean, in-thasgadh agus ùr-ghnàthas do choimhearsnachdan thar na trì sgìrean eileanach.
“Tha na planaichean brosnachail seo a sealltainn slighe nas cothromaich, nas seasmhaiche, gu àm teachdail nas soirbheachail mar a bhios sinn a’ tighinn am feabhas an dèidh a’ mhòr-ghalair.
Cuiridh in-thasgadh Riaghaltas na h-Alba de £50 millean spionnadh ann an cosnaidhean uaine agus ùr-ghnàthachail ann an dàimh ri lùth seasmhach, slàinte, turasachd, biadh is deoch agus di-ghualanachadh.
Ai feadh Alba tha sinn air daingneachadh còrr air £1.5 billean ann an Cùmhnantan Fàis.”
A’ labhairt an dèidh làmh-sgrìobhaidh a chur gu samhlachail, thuirt Mìcheal MacMhathain, Rùnaire Chaibineat airson Comhdhail, Bun-structair agus Ceangal:
“Tha mi toilichte a bhith a’ cur mo làmh-sgrìobhaidh ri aonta Teirmean Rùintean Chùmhnant Fàs nan Eilean, a’ daingneachadh gun dèan Riaghaltas na h-Alba in-thasgadh de £50 millean anns an roinn thairis na deich bliadhna a tha romhainn gu fàs seasmhach a lìbhrigeadh agus taic a thoirt do bhuadhachadh eaconamach.
“Bidh na pròiseactan a gheibh taic tron Chùmhnant seo a cur fòcas air a’ cumail agus a’ tarraing dhaoin’ òga gu ar coimhearsnachdan eileanach, a’ brosnachadh luchd-turais às ùr, a’ cur spionnadh ann an ùr-ghnathas agus sgilean, a’ toirt fàs air prìomh roinnean mar biadh is deoch agus na gnìomhachasan cruthachail, agus a’ togail a’ bhun-structair agus an eòlas a dh’fheumar gu brath a ghabhail air na cothroman bho lùth ath-nuadhachail.
“Lìbhrigidh an Cùmhnant pròiseactan air an cumadh le muinntir an àite agus le prìomhachasan ionadail a’ toirt ath-bheothachadh air eaconamaidhean nan eilean, a stèidheachadh cosnaidhean aig àrd-ìre agus togail ro-innleachdail le fàs agus soirbheachas san ùine fhada.”
Thuirt Cmhl Roddie MacAoidh, Ceannard Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar: “Tha sinn air leth taingeil a bhith air an ìre seo a ruighinn sa phròiseas, agus air dleasadh an ìre seo de dh’in-thasgadh tron chùmhnant, a tha a riochdachadh an ìre in-thasgaidh as àirde a-rèir sluaigh de na cùmhnantan fàs Albannach air fad. Tha Riaghaltas an Rìoghachd Aonaichte agus Riaghaltas na h-Alba air toirt fa-near an so-mhaoin shònraichte agus an comas fàis ar n-eileanan ann an roinnean leithid stòras lùth ath-nuadhachail, biadh is deoch, agus turasachd. Le gu bheil iad a daingneachadh in-thasgadh ann am pròiseactan Chùmhnant nan Eilean neartaichidh sin buaidh ar n-eileanan air an eaconamaidh nàiseanta, agus a cuideachadh le bhith a’ coinneachadh nan dùbhlan mu choinneamh ar coimhearsnachdan eileanach, gu sònraichte mar a bhios sinn a’ tighinn an uachdar an dèidh from COVID-19.”
Thuirt Cmhl James Stockan, Ceannard Chomhairle Eileanan Arcaibh: “Tha a bhith a’ cur làmh-sgrìobhaidh ris a’ chùmhnant seo a daingneachadh cothrom sònraichte do ar trì sgìrean eileanach an tuilleadh taisbeanaidh air ar comas, ar luach agus cho sònraichte sa tha sinn – chan ann a-mhàin anns an Rìoghachd Aonaichte, ach air feadh an t-saoghail. Tha an in-thasgadh tron chùmhnant a toirt chothroman airson fàs nach biodh comasach na caochladh, air leth cudromach anns na h-amannan dùbhlanach seo. Cuidichidh an Cùmhnant ar comas a chleachdadh a’ gluasad air adhart, chan ann a-mhàin mar ùghdarras eileanach, ach cuideachd a’ fuasgladh tuilleadh bhuannachdan le bhith a’ co-obrachadh le coimhearsnachdan co-eileanaich agus nas fhaid às.”
Thuit Cmhl Steven Coutts, Ceannard Chomhairle Eileanan Shealltainn: “Bidh na tagraidhean àrd-amasach againn sa chùmhnant a’ toirt fàs sònraichte eaconamach do ar n-eileanan. Faodaidh sinn a bhith misneachail gun toir an in-thasgadh ann am prìomh phròiseactan buannachd maireannach do choimhearsnachdan ar n-eileanan, do dh’Alba agus don Rìoghachd Aonaichte. Le bhith a’ cur làmh-sgrìobhaidh ri Teirmean Rùintean thatar a foillseachadh co-dhaingneachadh air ar n-eileanan a bhith nan àite tarraingeach airson a bhith a fuireach, ag obair, a bhith nad oileanach agus a’ dèanamh in-thasgadh.”
Thèid an in-thasgadh iomadh-millean a roinn air na pròiseactan a leanas.
A’ stiùireadh an t-slighe gu àm le gualan ìosal
- Ionad nan Eilean airson Neo-ni eimisean
- Pròiseact Ionad Connaidh Scapa Flow
- Ionad Lùth Innse Gall Outer
- Pròiseact Lùth Glan Shealltainn (air a ghabhail a-steach ann an Ionad nan Eilean airson Neo-ni eimisean)
- Port Uisge Fìor Dhomhainn Dales Voe
Taic do Ghnìomhachasan Fàs agus Teachdail
- Soirbheas Eileanan Cruthachail
- Leasachadh Innse Gall mar Cheann-uidhe
- Sligh Dualchas Cruinneil Arcaibh
- Tuathanas Inghearach Coimhearsnachd Arcaibh
- Shell-Volution
- Prògram Biadh is Deoch Innse Gall
- Àrainn Ùr-ghnathas Fànas Shealltainn
- Spaceport1
Coimhearsnachdan Seasmhach Beothail
- Prògram TalEntEd nan Eilean
- Àrainn Rannsachadh agus Ùr-ghnàthas Arcaibh
- Àrainn Ath-leasachadh Shealltainn
- Àrainn Ath-leasachadh Innse Gall
- Ath-leasachadh Knab