8. To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the regeneration and development of Granton waterfront. (S6O-02171)

The Scottish Government is represented on the Granton waterfront strategic partnership, which enables regular engagement with the City of Edinburgh Council and partners on the development and delivery of their plans for the regeneration of the Granton waterfront area. Through the partnership, we are able to discuss ways in which collaborative cross-portfolio support can be provided for the on-going development and delivery of the place-based vision for Granton. That support has included investment of more than £9 million in the early phases of the development, to help unlock sites and support development of the Western Villages demonstrator project.

I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer and for the funding that the Scottish Government has committed to and the engagement that it has taken part in so far.

As the regeneration of Granton waterfront has remarkable further potential to deliver on multiple wellbeing, economy and social justice policy objectives, I ask the Scottish Government to consider how it could further support that nationally significant development project in a holistic way. As part of that, I ask it to consider how a process could be developed to allow a multiyear package of Government funding to be secured in order to meet the multiple policy objectives and deliver new housing, facilities and opportunities for the benefit of north Edinburgh, visitors and our capital city as a whole.

I thank Ben Macpherson for his diligence as the local MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith and for bringing this important issue to the chamber. The Scottish Government is working with the Granton waterfront strategic partnership and providing support from the range of portfolios involved in delivering a place-based approach to the regeneration of Granton. That includes support for and advice on the completion of robust business plans by the partnership to identify the funding that will be required from a range of sources, including private investment. I would, of course, be happy to meet Ben Macpherson to discuss his suggestion and any further ideas that he might have.

I am sure that the cabinet secretary will agree that the United Kingdom Government’s levelling up funding of more than £16 million to restore and reopen the B-listed Granton gas holder is a welcome investment and can act as a catalyst to support the regeneration and redevelopment of Granton and the whole city waterfront.

What work is the cabinet secretary doing to help with the next set of levelling up funding projects and make sure that every part of Scotland, especially Edinburgh’s waterfront, realises that potential?

Of course I welcome that funding. Miles Briggs would, of course, expect me to challenge the levelling up fund on the basis that it has not been as targeted as I think that it could be, nor has it matched the levels of expenditure of the predecessor funding that came through our membership of the European Union.

I will be looking to meet the UK Government to discuss the next phase of the levelling up fund, to challenge it to go further, to ensure that investment meets devolved priorities and to ensure that we are no longer cut out of the decision-making process.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

That concludes portfolio questions on wellbeing economy, fair work and energy. Before we move to the next portfolio, there will be a brief pause to allow front-bench members to change places.