ALMOST £1.4 billion of funding will be poured into local projects across Scotland over the next decade, the British government announced today.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has written to Scotland’s 32 councils confirming cash for greenlit plans. These include nearly £39 million for the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (Amids), the South transport project in Renfrewshire, £15m to regenerate Drumchapel town centre in Glasgow and £18m for Elgin’s city masterplan.

A further £160m for investment zones in Glasgow and the north-east, alongside £26m each for the Cromarty and Forth freeports, will be lavished on business tax breaks. Another £26m will be provided for a new Fair Isle Ferry in Shetland.

Mr Murray confirmed the cash was in addition to a £3.4bn funding boost for Holyrood announced in the Budget.

He said: “The Chancellor delivered a Budget that will herald an era of growth for Scotland, rebuild our public services and begin a decade of national renewal.

“I look forward to working with Scotland’s local authorities in the coming weeks and months on a renewed approach for delivering the UK government’s missions in all parts of Scotland.”