STIRLING is set to benefit from £750,000 of investment for heritage-led regeneration projects.

The funding is being released through the City Heritage Trust programme, administered by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which will see an overall total of £8.6 million invested throughout Scotland’s seven cities through City Heritage Trusts (CHTs).

Delivered from 2018-2021, the HES funding will allow Stirling City Heritage Trust to direct resources to local heritage-led projects that will create jobs, regenerate buildings and city precincts, provide training opportunities in the sector and lever additional funding from other sources.

A further £185,000 will be allocated to support the trust’s Traditional Buildings Health Check Scheme (TBHCS).

In partnership with HES, and working collaboratively with local authorities and other groups, the Stirling City Heritage Trust will deliver this funding through their own programme to eligible local projects.

Past funding has enabled Stirling City Heritage Trust to deliver significant transformative projects, including the regeneration of city centre properties in King Street, where shopfronts have been both conserved and enhanced, and several tenement buildings have been comprehensively repaired.

An innovative “Traditional Building Health Check” service has also been established to advise property owners on appropriate repair and maintenance issues and how they can be dealt with.

Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of HES, said: “Through schemes such as City Heritage Trust funding, organisations best placed to understand local needs have the opportunity to not only improve the condition and quality of their local historic environment, but align projects to deliver the best possible outcomes in their communities.

“We want to ensure more of the money we spend is directed by communities themselves - by the individuals and organisations who know best how to tackle the issues affecting their communities and harnessing the energy of local people.

“We are seeing the positive impacts previous funding rounds have had on local communities, including the employment opportunities generated and stronger economies from successful commercial ventures.”

David Black, chair of Stirling City Heritage Trust, said: “It is great news that Historic Environment Scotland will be funding the trust for a further three years from April 2018 including continuation of the Traditional Buildings Health Check, based on Stirling’s successful pilot scheme.   

"This investment will allow us to continue to work in partnership with property owners in the repair and maintenance of the built heritage of Stirling.

"This is vital to the city's economy, and crucial in safeguarding and conserving the rich cultural heritage found in the traditional buildings of Stirling."

Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for culture, tourism and external affairs, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Scotland’s cities to lead the way in improving our historic built environment and to encourage more proactive maintenance of our diverse buildings.

"I am confident that the funding will further benefit local communities and the wider economy, providing skilled work for our people.

“It is essential that our historic environment is cared for in a sustainable way.

"The City Heritage Trust scheme will help ensure the conditions and quality of their local historic environment can be improved and preserved for future generations, while bringing immediate, tangible benefits to communities across the country.”