The Highland Council has been offered £4.5m in funding which will transform vacant and derelict land in the area, Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell announced today.

The funding, which is intended to create jobs, promote sustainable environmental policies, improve the quality of life for communities in the Highlands and stimulate economic growth, is subject to a delivery plan from Highland Council, detailing how it intends to spend the funding.

There are about 10,000 hectares of vacant and derelict land across Scotland, of which over a third has been unused for at least 20 years. The Vacant and Derelict Land Fund was established as part of the then Scottish Executive's response to the Cities Review, which was published in 2003. Ministers have allocated £36.6m to the fund for 2008-2011, of which £13.5m is allocated to Glasgow, £7.65m to North Lanarkshire, £5.25m to Dundee, £5.7m to South Lanarkshire, in addition to the funding to Highland Council, which will be receiving an allocation from the fund for the first time.

Communities Minster Stewart Maxwell said: “This fund has the potential to enrich Highland communities, by bringing back into use land that has lain derelict for many years.

"It will be for the local authority to agree its priorities, but the Government believes that this investment has the potential to kick-start significant economic development.

"The Vacant and Derelict Land Fund is making a full contribution towards our goal of increased sustainable economic growth across Scotland."

Related news items:

• 'Useless' Home Reports attacked by Conservatives
• Action urged on housing crisis
• Affordable housing investment announced for Borders
• Audit of Scots language announced
• Brown to make housing a political priority