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There are a total of 30 current projects supported by regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) and 15 current projects supported by Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) being delivered over the course of 2023/24 and 2024/25 with grant expenditure anticipated in these two financial years.

Due to the nature of the delivery of capital projects grant profiles can change depending on the progress of the project and we continually work with local authorities to monitor draw down requirements. Final year end grant claims will continue to be submitted over the course of March and early April. This means we cannot confirm the final grant profile for 2024-25 at this time. However information on the current projects supported and the total grant awarded are provided in the following tables:

The funding awarded through the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) and the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) over the last five years, from 2019-20 to 2023-24 by local authority area, is detailed in the following table. This table excludes projects that were subsequently withdrawn by local authorities.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of building and preserving a society where the rights and freedoms of individuals are respected and communities can trust their elected representatives.

The Scottish Government has set out its plans, on preventing individuals included on the sex offenders register from being councillors or MSPs, to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee who are currently considering the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill.

The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund has supported four projects in the Cowdenbeath constituency since the fund was established as detailed in the following table:

Applications to the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) are assessed by an Independent Panel against:

• the basic eligibility criteria;
• ability to meet the aims and objectives of the programme;
• readiness to make use of available grant; and
• wider strategic fit.

Information on the eligibility criteria, aims and objectives for VDLIP can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/vacant-and-derelict-land-investment-programme/pages/overview/ .

Funding of £1 million has been prioritised to support Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company from the budget available to support regeneration programmes. Ministers are considering the implications of the budget and options for the delivery of the remaining budget in 2024-25, and the Scottish Government will clarify how the budget will be allocated in due course.

The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme has not supported any projects within the Cowdenbeath constituency since its launch in 2021. However it has supported one project in the Fife local authority area, the Ravenscraig Skills Hub, with nearly £500k investment.

Ministers are considering the implications and options for delivery of the regeneration budget in 2024-2025 and we have yet to make decisions on a future application round for the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Having regard to the development plan the reporter considered that the determining issues in this appeal were the principle of the development and its potential benefits, including renewable electricity generation; landscape and visual impact and ecological impacts.

The reporter took account of all submissions made on this appeal which included extensive environmental information containing an informal environmental report, landscape and visual impact assessment, extended vegetation survey, hydrological assessment, preliminary ecological appraisal, transport and access statement and a heritage impact assessment.

The reporter concluded the proposal would make a modest but worthwhile contribution towards the achievement of renewable energy generation targets and whilst the proposal would have some negative effects, the reporter found these impacts to be localised in nature, are capable of some mitigation and are outweighed by the benefits of the development.

The reporter takes account of all the evidence submitted by parties involved including those views expressed by consultees and members of the local community.

The reporter concluded that the proposed development accorded with the development plan with regard to ecological and landscape and visual impacts.

The reporter took full account of all the submissions made by parties, including the potential impact on the island's birds. This included the appellants Ecological Appraisal and comments from members of the local community.

The reporter concluded that the proposed development complied with development plan policies relating to biodiversity.

The reporter has included a condition to this permission setting out that prior to the commencement of the development a Construction Management Plan shall be submitted to the council for approval. This Plan will set out, unless otherwise agreed by the planning authority, that vegetation removal should be scheduled to occur outside of the nesting bird season.