Scotland Office Minister tours Elgin to explore the Plan for Neighbourhoods initiative

The Minister met with Jenny Urquhart, Chair of the Elgin Neighbourhood Board (ENB), representatives from Moray Council and community partners to discuss potential projects being considered by the Board and to see wider town regeneration projects supported by the Moray Growth Deal and UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The visit began with a briefing at Moray Council Headquarters, followed by a tour highlighting key projects across Elgin. The group then visited the Elgin Active Youth Engagement (AYE) Bus, a key initiative supported through the Elgin Neighbourhood Board. Donated by Stagecoach and funded for an initial two years by the Board, the mobile resource will provide early intervention and support for young people and actively engages them to share their ideas, ensuring their voices are central to shaping safer public spaces within Elgin.

On South Street, the Minister was shown progress on a major regeneration project that will deliver 38 affordable homes, the Business Enterprise Hub, and retail spaces. The scheme is being supported by the Scottish Government investment in the Moray Growth Deal and the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the Elgin Neighbourhood Board making future investment towards the Business Enterprise Hub to create new opportunities for enterprise and innovation.

The tour continued to Elgin bus station and surrounding streets, where discussions focused on the town centre’s transformation, including the growing café culture, the challenges of vacant properties such as the former St Giles Shopping Centre, and the future of heritage buildings like the Gordon Arms Hotel.
 

At Cooper Park, the Minister learned about proposals being developed through the Neighbourhood Board to improve facilities for young people, alongside wider employability and community projects across the town.

The Minister also visited the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, part of the Moray Growth Deal. More details on her time there can be found on the project’s website.

UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: "It was wonderful to be in Moray to see for myself how the local community is working in partnership with us to transform the area with more than £70 million UK Government funding. This investment is already starting to reap rewards for the region - and their ambitious proposals for using £20 million UK Government Plan for Neighbourhoods funding to power community-led regeneration of Elgin town centre will further help lay the foundations to kickstart local growth and drive-up living standards.

"I was also pleased to visit the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre in Elgin to see how £5 million of the UK Government's £32.5 million Moray Growth Deal funding is trailblazing life sciences and health advancements in this part of Scotland. The UK Government is working closely with partners across Scotland to invest around £1.7 billion in local projects as we deliver a decade of national renewal as part of our Plan for Change."

Moray Council Leader, Cllr Kathleen Robertson, said: “We were pleased to welcome the Minister and showcase the work underway to regenerate Elgin, which will benefit all communities in Moray. These projects highlight the value of collaboration between national and local partners, and the commitment to creating opportunities for our communities. The Minister was impressed by the pace of work taking place and I’m extremely proud to be able to showcase the hard work going on across Moray just now.”

Cllr Marc Macrae, Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, said: “This visit was an excellent opportunity to showcase the strong collaboration between local communities, the council and both governments. Projects like South Street and the Business Enterprise Hub demonstrate how national investment, matched with local ambition, can create real opportunities for people and businesses in Moray. I look forward to seeing the positive impact these developments will have for residents and our town centre.”

Jenny Urquhart, Chair of Elgin Neighbourhood Board, added: “It was a privilege to share with the Minister how local voices are shaping regeneration in Elgin. The Elgin Neighbourhood Board is committed to engaging with the community and ensuring that the priorities of residents are at the heart of plans for the town’s future.”

Together, the Elgin Neighbourhood Board, Moray Growth Deal and the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund are the key drivers of Moray’s regeneration. The Moray Growth Deal represents a combined investment of over £100 million, with the UK and Scottish Governments each investing up to £32.5 million over 10 years, and regional partners contributing up to £35.8 million over the same period. The Deal is expected to directly support up to 450 jobs.

Alongside this, the Elgin Neighbourhood Board is guiding £20m of UK Government funding through the Plan for Neighbourhoods to ensure local people have a direct say in setting priorities for the town. The Levelling Up Fund is also providing £18.3 million to support the regeneration of Elgin town centre, with a focus on delivering new housing, business space, and improved public realm. This investment complements other funding streams and is designed to boost local economic growth, improve everyday life for residents, and create opportunities for future generations.