Government announces Pride in Place funding - up to £20 million for Edinburgh

The UK Government has announced new funding today committing to spend £292 million in Scottish council areas on regeneration projects.

The Pride in Place programme will share £280 million among 12 councils for town centres and high streets to preserve heritage and improve safety and security. Edinburgh will receive up to £20 million from this fund.

A further award – the Pride in Place Impact Fund of £12 million – will be shared among eight councils, providing £1.5 million to each to provide new green spaces, play areas and town centres.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “For too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline – powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks. That ends now.

“We’re investing in the UK’s future, by backing the true patriots that build our communities up in neighbourhoods across every corner of the country. Because it’s people who bring pride, hope and life to our communities.

“This is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it’s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best – the people with real skin in the game.

“We’re choosing renewal over decline, unity over division. This is our Plan for Change in action – giving power and pride back to the people who make Britain great.”

UK Government announces £292 million Pride in Place investment to transform Scottish neighbourhoods
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander met Council Leader Jane Meagher at Granton Gasholder
Picture Alan Simpson 25/9/2025

Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander, said: “We’re here at this lovely Gasholder Park in Granton because there has been British Government money provided for the renovation and renewal of this park. And what we’re announcing today is £292 million – almost 300 million pounds, of direct funding by the UK Government into communities across Scotland. That is a manifesto pledge that we made. It is a promise made, and it means that local people will be in the driving seat of local regeneration in the coming years.”

The Edinburgh Reporter asked about the new funding and what it is really intended for and the Minister said that they really want to listen to local people to find out what change they might want to see in their community. He said: “It might be a range of local services, but we want to hear directly from local people as to what they want to see in their communities that will make the biggest difference.”

Jane Meagher The City of Edinburgh Council Leader.
Picture Alan Simpson
25 September 2025

Cllr Jane Meagher welcomed the Scottish Secretary to the park for his short visit. She told us that she was really pleased about the new government funding of up to £20 million which will be available to Edinburgh.

Cllr Meagher said: “Up to £20 million for Edinburgh is just wonderful news, but the detail is yet to be worked out. This is very fresh but I’m delighted – and being at the Gasholder shows what can be done when governments and councils work together to make a big difference to a community. The levelling up funding of £16 million made a massive difference to this particular project. If you look at the gasholder itself and the huge amount of painting that went on the phenomenal number of coats of paint it took – that’s where the levelling up fund took us. And of course, The Scottish Government came in with funding for the play for the park area, and we as a council contributed in terms of officer time and project management.”

Tracy Gilbert MP for Edinburgh North and Leith was also at the park and she said she hopes there will be some of the £20 million for North Edinburgh. Ms Gilbert said: “It’s a great announcement and it’s great that we’re going to be consulting communities to find out what their priorities are and what it is they want to achieve through this.”

She stressed the difference the Levelling Up monies had made to the park. She said: “Look around you. It’s a beautiful outdoor space. People feel reconnected to their community, particularly with an iconic building that everybody knows and recognises – not just in Edinburgh North and Leith, but anyone that flies into the city. you can probably hear, sees the gasworks and also the investment in North Edinburgh Arts as well. So it’s about joining up communities so that no one’s left behind, and we can take that forward into 2026 in the Scottish Parliament elections.”

We also asked the council leader if any of this newly announced money will help the proposed tram extension. Cllr Jane Meagher said: “We have yet to be told what the funding is going to cover, but there is no doubt that active travels a hugely important part of this project. For example we’re on a cycle route. If we are to achieve our net zero targets a tram would be a fantastic addition to that. It would help people in this area get to work, to get to well paid jobs and it would be an important driver not only for Edinburgh’s economy.”

The 12 council areas sharing £280 million includes Edinburgh which will receive up to £20 million.