COMMUNITIES across the Borderlands have come together for a conference to share their experiences to date on developing proposals to improve their towns and villages through locally made ‘Place Plans’.

The Place Programme is a central part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and will support the towns’ growth through Place and Town Investment Plans.

The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal is a 10-year programme of investment, signed in 2021 and supported by the UK and Scottish governments, to deliver sustainable and inclusive economic benefits across the south of Scotland and north of England.

It is also delivering projects and programmes to support digital infrastructure, green growth, business infrastructure and skills, increased tourism and natural capital.

It brings up to £50m of funding – £20m from the Scottish Government and £30m from the UK Government – and is core to the deal's Improving Places theme.

In total 22 towns across the region, including four in the Borders, will benefit. These are: Alnwick, Bedlington, Bellingham, Dalton in Furness, Egremont, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Gretna, Haltwhistle, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kirkconnel, Longtown, Newbiggin, Penrith, Prudhoe, Rothbury, Stranraer, Ulverston, Whithorn, Wigton and Wigtown.

These were identified by the local authorities they are in as places that have opportunities and challenges but which had not previously received significant public investment.

The Place Programme conference, held on Tuesday, July 30, in Gretna, focused on using inclusive growth strategies to bring regeneration and enhance resilience.

There were also presentations from two teams, Stranraer and Penrith, who have already had their Place Plans and Town Investment Plan respectively endorsed by the Borderlands Partnership Board.

Penrith is developing projects under three themes centred on arts and culture, transport connections, and business and industry.

Stranraer is focussing on distinct quarters within the town, including One Waterfront and Enterprise Zone, under the brand “Creating Stranraer”.

Professor Mark Shucksmith, chair of the Place Programme Board, said: “Many of our towns serve substantial catchment areas of dispersed and sparsely populated rural communities and are vital to the economic success, resilience and social sustainability of the Borderlands.

“A host of pressures mean town centres face significant challenges that require a sustained and coordinated response to secure their future viability.

“By targeting investment at projects that will make long term impacts, alongside a ‘whole town’, community-led approach, we believe this programme will bring a lasting change to places right across the region.”