THE Scottish Government has unveiled a £24 billion infrastructure plan to be rolled out in the next five years.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Secretary Michael Matheson said the plan will focus on three main themes – the transition to net-zero, boosting the economy and “building resilient and sustainable places”.
The plan is part of the delivery of the Government’s £33.5bn National Infrastructure Mission, which aims to create 45,000 jobs.
To meet the Scottish Government’s 2045 net-zero target, the plan allocates £500 million for active travel, £350m for an 18,000-hectare increase to forest cover and £1.5bn to decarbonise heat – as announced in the Programme for Government.
In a bid to increase “inclusive economic growth”, the plan proposes a £1.5bn programme of improvements to roads and bridges, as well as including the already announced £100m for the R100 broadband project and £525m for city growth deals.
A £2.8bn investment over the next five years was also announced to build more social and affordable homes in Scotland, along with £4bn to improve and maintain water infrastructure and £2bn for the school estate.
Matheson said: “While this is a five-year plan, it builds the foundation of a stronger Scotland for decades to come, a Scotland that will harness new opportunities and is resilient to future challenges.
“It will steer the investments that will help our short-term response to Covid-19 and our longer term recovery and it will drive innovation, ensure access to growing global markets, create good, sustainable jobs and support a just and fair transition to our net-zero emissions and wellbeing economy.”
The draft plan will now enter a consultation period the minister said he hopes will “ensure a final approach that benefits the whole of Scotland both now and in the future”.
Tory MSP Graham Simpson described the plan as “pretty unambitious and lacking in detail”, but added: “I agree with the Cabinet Secretary that we do need to invest in infrastructure, we do need to level up the economy.”
Simpson said there are still projects outstanding from the last infrastructure plan and not enough detail on new projects is included, including if there will be any new roads built.
He added: “I think he should probably be apologising to communities across Scotland who will be left out by this.
“When’s he going to come up with any detail on any of this?”
Matheson said the plan contained “the most ambitious level of investment in infrastructure of any part of the UK”.
He added: “I can assure the member that it’s not the case that it’s not ambitious, it’s exactly the opposite.”
Labour MSP Colin Smyth asked what will be done to ensure there will not be delays as there were in previous projects, along with assurances that firms responsible for the delays or subpar infrastructure will not be given contracts again.
Matheson said: “What I can assure the member is that the investment hierarchy that was set out in the infrastructure investment plan ... is one that is based on how we can make better use of our existing assets and how we can enhance them more effectively to make greater use of them.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel