Work to redevelop Dundee’s central waterfront will be accelerated thanks to £3.8 million funding announced by the Scottish Government.
It was part of a package of £76 million of extra investment that finance secretary John Swinney said would be used for roads, affordable housing and green transport projects.
Also in the list is £5.1 million for the carriageway dualling project on the A9 at Crubenmore, north of Dalwhinnie, which is expected to be complete by 2011/12, and additional funding for capital investment by Dundee College.
The money is what is known as consequential funding, arising from Scotland’s share of measures announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling in the Budget last month.
Mr Swinney told MSPs, “The Scottish Government has moved swiftly to allocate these resources to ensure they make the maximum possible contribution to Scotland’s economic recovery and to support employment, particularly in the construction industry.
“Significantly, we have decided to invest an additional £31 million in affordable housing.
“It means that over three years we will deliver a record £1.71 billion of investment in social housing to support the approval of 21,500 affordable homes across Scotland.”
He added that the funding would “provide a further and timely boost to Scotland’s recovery prospects.”
The long-term aim of the Dundee waterfront project is to extend the city centre down to the Tay, with the creation of a new street plan and the realignment of the road bridge ramps.
The Tayside House office block will be demolished, with council staff moving to a new building off West Marketgait, and the Olympia leisure centre will also come down.
An area near Discovery Point has been earmarked for an offshoot of London’s famous V&A museum and a contest to choose the architects for this landmark building is under way.
Councillor Ken Guild, leader of Dundee City Council’s administration and chairman of the waterfront board, welcomed the announcement.
He said, “This latest investment in the ongoing regeneration of the waterfront reflects the Scottish Government’s commitment to the project and it will be widely welcomed throughout the city.”
Dundee College will share a £17 million package for further education.
It is in the middle of a £47 million scheme to reduce its campus to just two complexes, at Kingsway and Gardyne Road.
The latter, a former college of education, is being stripped to its shell and largely rebuilt. Work is expected to be completed next spring.
Mr Swinney also announced £10 million for sustainable transport initiatives, including a green bus fund and the development of infrastructure to support electric vehicles and cycling.
There will also be £6.2 million for the upgrade of the A77 the key link to the new Cairnryan ferry terminal and £3 million for renewable energy infrastructure at Arnish in the Western Isles.
The promise of £5 million towards upgrading the A9 will be welcomed by communities along the length of the road.
Although the cash is going towards the dualling project north of Dalwhinnie, other parts of the route could be contenders for future investment.
Investigations have been carried out into the possible upgrade of a junction on the A9 north of Perth.
Following pressure from politicians, Transport Scotland has looked at improvements to the Dunkeld and Birnam access.
Other work has only recently been carried out elsewhere on the A9. A £3 million scheme to make the road safer at Auchterarder began last month.
As well as improving safety and access to the dual carriageway for motorists joining the road from Auchterarder at the Loaninghead junction, the project will open up housing opportunities.