8. Regeneration Funding Bids Update 2025 - Report
Renfrewshire Council · 26 August 2025
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 26 August 2025 and its agenda
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 26 August 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Regeneration Funding Bids Update 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report provides the Board with an update on progress regarding external funding bids and the delivery of key regeneration projects, and outlines the programmes currently being developed for 2025/26. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: (i) Approves the list of proposed projects for the 25/26 allocation of the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) and Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF); (ii) Accepts the grant funding of £650,000 from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) to develop the Belltrees regeneration project; (iii) Approves the submission of a Stage 2 Regeneration Capital Grant Fund application for the Houston Court regeneration project in Johnstone if invited by the Scottish Government; (iv) Accepts the grant funding of £240,000 from Visit Scotland’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) to develop the Castle Semple Visitor Facility project; (v) Notes the progress and continuing actions to deliver projects from the range of regeneration funds identified in the report.
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3. Background 3.1. In recent years, the funding of regeneration projects has relied heavily on support from national government and other external sources, often with ‘match-funding’ provided by the Council. A report to the Economy and Regeneration Board on 19 March 2024 outlined the range of external capital funds available and the programmes under development. 3.2. In this context, and over the past year, officers have continued to progress various regeneration projects, programmes, and strategies with the support of external funding from the UK and Scottish Governments, as well as government agencies such as NatureScot and SEPA. 3.3. This report outlines the various funding streams that the Council intends to access during the 2025/26 financial year to continue regenerating and revitalising our town centres, supporting communities, and promoting sustainable economic growth across Renfrewshire. ___________________________________________________________________ 4 Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP; Scottish Government) 4.1. Since 2019 the Council have used funding from the PBIP (and its previous iteration, the Town Centre Regeneration Fund) to accelerate capital investment, supporting delivery of actions within our town centre strategies, community led regeneration proposals and community led place plans such as the Making of Ferguslie, to accelerate the Council’s overall placeshaping agenda. 4.2. Through this fund the Council have supported and delivered a wide range of projects across Renfrewshire including community led projects such as the creation of a community well-being hub and bike shop, restoration of various listed buildings and vacant commercial units as well as enhancements to public realm. 4.3. In early summer 2024 the Scottish Government announced that in view of wider public finance constraints, national funding streams such as the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Vacant and Derelict Land Fund were to be paused. In respect of PBIP, the Scottish Government indicated that allocations would be restricted to support projects already underway. As stated in the 5 November 2024 paper to Board, the Council was able to secure £300,000 in funding for 24/25. 4.4. The Scottish Government have confirmed that guaranteed funding from the programme has resumed for 25/26, with the Council receiving £723,000. The following table sets out the projects to delivered from this budget, which continue to closely align with progressing the Council’s placeshaping strategy. Table 1 Place Based Investment Programme Projects 2025/26 proposed awards, summary update at August 2025
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Project summary Estimated Cost Estimated Completion 1. Former supermarket demolition; Houston Court Demolition of a former supermarket at Houston Court, in the heart of Johnstone town centre, which has been vacant for several years. The cleared site will cover approximately 0.3 hectares. £200,000 2026 2. Johnstone Unit refurbishment Refurbishment of commercial unit at Houston Court. £100,000 2026 3. Ferguslie Green Line – Belltrees Complementary funding for Belltrees regeneration project funded by SG Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme. £150,000 2026 4. Erskine TC enhancements Public realm improvements supporting the delivery of the Erskine Town Centre Strategy. Includes the creation of new public realm, outdoor space and an amphitheatre. £150,000 2026 5. Refractive Support for Refractive community group (tenant) occupation of refurbished Liberal Club building in Paisley. £20,000 2025 6. Regeneration Grant Funding Additional funding to support regeneration projects and existing schemes such as the Retail Improvement Scheme (to supplement the Council motion), and Historic Buildings in Villages Grants scheme £103,000 2025/26 ___________________________________________________________________ 5 Shared Prosperity Fund (UK Government) 5.1. The UK Government has committed to a one year extension of the current UKSPF programme in their Budget Statement, 30 October 2024. Further details can be found in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025-26 report which was presented to this Board on 18 March 2025.
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5.2. The Council’s Regeneration and Place Team are leading on the delivery of the capital element of the fund (£481,599). The following table outlines how this allocation will be spent in 25/26, meeting the SPF’s aims of supporting thriving places and supporting health and wellbeing. Table 2 SPF Capital Projects 2025/26 allocation at August 2025 Project summary Estimated Cost Estimated Completion 1. Erskine Civic Square Public realm improvements supporting the delivery of the Erskine Town Centre Strategy. Includes the creation of new public realm, outdoor space and an amphitheatre. £200,000 2026 2. Castle Semple Visitor Hub Creation of new public toilets, bike hire space and visitor kiosk at Castle Semple Visitor Centre. £100,000 2026 3. Ferguslie Belltrees Complementary funding for Belltrees regeneration project funded by SG Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme.. £100,000 2026 4. Houston Court Unit refurbishment Refurbishment of prominent vacant unit in Johnstone town centre to make it more marketable for future re-use. £21,593 2026 5. Regeneration Grant Funding Additional funding to support regeneration projects and existing schemes such as the Retail Improvement Scheme (to supplement the Council motion), and Historic Buildings in Villages Grants scheme £60,000 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ 6 Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (Scottish Government) 6.1. The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) is one of the longest-running funding streams available to local authorities, having been offered annually since 2014. Renfrewshire Council has previously secured support from this fund for projects such as the Russell Institute, Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub, and Paisley Museum. 6.2. The RCGF has also supported projects led by community organisations (with the grant administered by the Council), including initiatives promoted by Linwood Community Development Trust, Active Communities in Johnstone, as well as the recent PACE Youth Theatre project in Paisley.
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6.3. The RCGF is a competitive annual fund open to all 32 Scottish local authorities. It is consistently oversubscribed, meaning that many submitted projects do not receive funding. 6.4. Following a review of the RCGF and its associated programmes, the Scottish Government issued a call for expressions of interest (Stage 1) for the 2026/27 fund in May 2025. This year the RCGF will also streamline funds previously available through the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) and as such has a stronger focus on reuse of vacant land or property. Projects submitted also require to demonstrate the ability to deliver during financial year 2026/27. 6.5. After a meeting of the Council’s Corporate Management Team (CMT), it was agreed that the Council would submit a Stage 1 Expression of Interest to support delivery of the regeneration of Houston Court, as outlined in the Johnstone Vison, which was approved as a framework for the reimagining of Johnstone Town Centre at the Economy and Regeneration Board of 28 May 2024. 6.6. A key move central to delivery of the Vision is to enhance Johnstone’s Civic Squares, including the Houston Court precinct, making them more inviting for people to visit, gather and spend time. Initial designs have been progressed with an engagement event held over May and June 2025 to give the local community an opportunity to comment. 6.7. As stated above, the Council aims to facilitate the demolition of a former supermarket at Houston Court Johnstone, using funds from the PBIP. The RCGF bid will support the transformation of the site following demolition. It will deliver new commercial units and a reimagined pedestrian precinct, creating a green connection between the two civic squares in the town centre. The project will include new landscaping, sustainable drainage, parking, and enhanced public spaces, including new play and exercise areas. 6.8. The project aims to make the area around the pedestrian precinct and Johnstone Town Hall more attractive and welcoming, encouraging greater footfall and dwell time. The new units, located adjacent to established and recently refurbished premises on a key pedestrian route, will offer flexible space suitable for office or commercial use. These units will be ideal for small businesses looking to expand, particularly graduates of Renfrewshire Council’s successful Start-Up Street initiative, which already operates nearby in Johnstone. 6.9. If the Stage 1 application is successful, the Council will be invited to submit a more detailed Stage 2 application. Any progress on the application will be reported to a future Board. ________________________________________________________________ 7 Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (Scottish Government) 7.1. The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) is a multi-year Scottish Government fund that supports the transformation and reuse of long- term vacant and derelict sites.
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7.2. The Economy and Regeneration Board, at its meeting on 23 May 2023, approved the submission of a VDLIP application to support the delivery of The Making of Ferguslie, the community-led Local Place Plan for the neighbourhood. An application was submitted in June 2023 for the transformation of 2.69 hectares of land within the Belltrees area of Ferguslie Park into a multi-functional greenspace, providing natural play areas, activity space, and improved active travel connections within the neighbourhood and beyond. Officers were subsequently invited to progress a more detailed Stage 2 bid, which was submitted in November 2023. 7.3. A decision on the Stage 2 application was put on hold while the Scottish Government conducted a review of its capital regeneration funds. However, in April 2025, the Scottish Government confirmed that the Ferguslie Green Line – Belltrees project had been approved for funding support from the VDLIP, for up to £650,000. This funding, along with additional support from the SPF and PBIP, will enable the delivery of this transformational project in Ferguslie. 7.4. Consultants are currently preparing a tender package to go to market for a contractor to deliver the project. The tender process is anticipated in the second half of 2025, with works commencing in January 2026. 7.5. It should be borne in mind by members that whilst this funding from the Scottish Government will cover the first year’s maintenance of the new space after it is delivered, there will be an ongoing cost for Renfrewshire Council in terms of cutting grass, street light monitoring and general operational maintenance for the area. This will be more expensive than the current regime following this capital investment. The financial implications are referred to later in this report. _____________________________________________________________ 8 Council Motion (27 February 2025) 8.1. At the Council budget meeting held on the 27th of February 2025, additional monies were allocated to support existing regeneration grant funds. £50k was allocated to supplement the existing Retail Improvement Scheme (RIS) and £50k to the historic buildings in villages grant (HBV). 8.2. As outlined in the paper to Board on the 20th of May 2025, at the Council meeting, £0.5m has been allocated for the creation of a new Town Centre Regeneration Fund, specifically targeting projects where the redevelopment of significant local buildings or sites has stalled. Progress on the grant will be reported back to the Board on a rolling basis, with an update on the projects which have been funded. _____________________________________________________________ 9 Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (Visit Scotland) 9.1. In March 2022, the Council successfully applied to VisitScotland for funding from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) to produce an infrastructure plan for Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. The plan focuses primarily on Castle Semple but also includes Muirshiel Country Park and strategic linkages to Renfrewshire’s towns and villages.
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9.2. This plan formed the basis of a further successful RTIF application in September 2023, seeking a design grant for a new toilet block/cycling hub (titled Castle Semple Visitor Facility) at Castle Semple. 9.3. Following a period of review, the Scottish Government committed to supporting another round of RTIF funding. Subsequently, officers submitted a further bid to RTIF in February 2025 for capital funding to help deliver the Visitor Facility project. The bid also included a request for funding to support enhancements to the Castle Semple entrance and lochside path. This element of the project will be delivered in partnership with Sustrans, who have produced the detailed designs for the entrance and lochside path improvements and will also provide additional funding. It was confirmed in July 2025 that the funding bid for £240k was successful. Work on the new Visitor Facility is scheduled to begin towards the end of September 2025, with completion expected by January 2026. 9.4. A funding bid was also submitted for Phase 2 of the Lochwinnoch Circular Trail Project. Phase 1, previously funded by RTIF, involved the creation of a new boardwalk partway around Aird Meadow Loch, establishing a formal path through a previously inaccessible area. The Phase 2 bid aimed to extend the boardwalk to complete the circular trail. VisitScotland advised that funding bid for this project was not successful this round. _____________________________________________________________ 10 Water Environment Fund (SEPA) 10.1. The Board of 23 May 2023 noted that SEPA identified an opportunity for the restoration and improvement of the Candren Burn within Ferguslie Park, Paisley, contributing to delivery of the Making of Ferguslie local place plan. 10.2. An initial feasibility study was developed by officers, supported by SEPA’s Water Environment Fund. The study was undertaken over late 2024, with progress outlined in a separate paper being considered by the Board. 10.3. In view of study outcomes, officers have secured a further £100,000 from SEPA’s Water Environment Fund to develop proposals to concept design stage. This will enable more detailed analysis of options, technical investigations and community engagement, supporting an outline design. It is anticipated that the study will commence in late 2025 and will be subject to consultation with local members, residents and community groups. _____________________________________________________________ 11 Heritage funding (Historic Environment Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund) 11.1. As noted in the 23 May 2023 paper to this Board officers had previously submitted unsuccessful place-based applications to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to fund the development phase of the ‘Renfrewshire Villages Loop: Kilbarchan to Johnstone. Reviving Dynamic Heritage’ project.
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11.2. As outlined in the 20 May 2025 paper to Board, officers are now looking to apply again to Historic Environment Scotland’s Heritage and Place Programme and National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Grants £250,000 to £10million fund. Funding applications are now being developed for “Cornerstones: Revitalising Lochwinnoch’s Historical Axes” an area-based scheme which seeks to help regenerate the centre of Lochwinnoch by investing in its built heritage and promoting the history of the village. The funding bids will ask for £45k each from HES and NLHF to help support the development phase of the scheme. The application to HES was submitted in August 2025 and the application to NLHF will be submitted later this year. ____________________________________________________________ 12 Next Steps 12.1. Officers will continue to seek out external funding opportunities to fulfil our main priority of regenerating and revitalising Renfrewshire’s towns, villages and rural locations, helping to develop places where people want to live, work, visit and spend time. 12.2. Progress on funding applications and delivery of associated actions will be reported to Board at regular intervals as appropriate. _____________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No additional funding is sought. All funding is accounted for within existing Council budgets and external funding. For the Belltrees project there will be an additional £25,000 required annually for maintenance costs. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – Creating a Sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy – delivery of projects and submission of funding applications supports the Council’s wider placeshaping agenda, improving quality of place, our neighbourhoods and town centres. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. 8. Health & Safety – None
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9. Procurement – None 10. Risk – None 11. Privacy Impact – None 12. Climate Risk – The regeneration projects proposed include the creation of sustainable links and enhancements to green space. 13. Children’s Rights – None 14. Cosla Policy Position – None ___________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Regeneration Funding Bids Update 2022. Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 14 June 2022. (b) Regeneration Funding Bids Update 2023. Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 23 May 2023. (c) Making of Ferguslie – Update. Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 23 May 2023. (d) Regeneration Funding Bids Update 2024. Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 19 March 2024. (e) UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025/26. Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 18 March 2025. (f) Cornerstones Project, Lochwinnoch. Economy and Regeneration Policy Board, 20 May 2025. ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Euan Shearer; Regeneration and Place Manager; Tel 0141 6184664. Email: euan.shearer@renfrewshire.gov.uk