Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pride in Place: Regeneration

Wednesday 15 April 2026 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Pride in Place programme is investing 12 million across Scotland over two years.
  • North Ayrshire received 1.5 million from the Pride in Place impact fund.
  • The programme aims to bring long-term vacant premises back into productive use on high streets.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kirsteen Sullivan Labour (Co-op) Bathgate and Linlithgow
Scotland

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues through the Pride in Place programme to support regeneration in Scotland.

Answer from Kirsty McNeill

Through our ambitious Pride in Place programme, we are empowering local people to shape the future of their neighbourhoods. The Pride in Place impact fund is investing £12 million across Scotland over two years, including £1.5 million in North Ayrshire. We will invest up to £480 million in 24 Scottish communities over the next decade, including £20 million each for the Irvine and Three Towns neighbourhoods in North Ayrshire, and for the Fauldhouse, Whitburn and Blackburn neighbourhood in West Lothian. This locally led funding can be used to directly support regeneration, high streets and heritage. Best of all, decisions will be made by local people—those who know and love the places the most.

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Q2 Irene Campbell Lab North Ayrshire and Arran
Culture, Media & Sport

Question

I am pleased to say that after a huge amount of hard work was put into a Pride in Place application, investment has been successfully allocated to the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston in my constituency. Does the Minister agree that the £20 million of UK Government Pride in Place funding will provide great opportunities for community projects that can improve our town centres and regenerate our shorefront areas?

Answer from Kirsty McNeill

Huge congratulations to my hon. Friend and her constituents. These three towns have tremendous untapped potential that has been long neglected and underutilised. Our coastal towns are a huge part of our identity on these islands, and I look forward to working with her to champion the pride that people rightly feel about living in this beautiful part of Ayrshire.

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Q3 Kirsteen Sullivan Labour (Co-op) Bathgate and Linlithgow
Economy Community Security
Context

Years of under-investment and loss of major employers in Whitburn and Blackburn have led to economic and health inequalities, weakening the high street. The Labour Government's £20 million Pride in Place funding aims to address these issues by involving local communities.

Question

Years of under-investment and the loss of major employers have left Whitburn and Blackburn facing deep economic and health inequalities, weakened high streets and people generally feeling left behind, yet the strength of local organisations and businesses shows great ambition for renewal. With £20 million of Pride in Place funding from this Labour Government, local people are finally at the heart of decisions on local regeneration. How does the Minister see this programme rebuilding community cohesion and inclusion so that people feel valued and that their contribution matters?

Answer from Kirsty McNeill

The communities of Fauldhouse, Blackburn and Whitburn all face long-standing economic challenges, but as my hon. Friend rightly says, there is also so much pride and passion locally, and she is a great champion of that. Our Pride in Place programme is there to ensure that all local people have a stake and a say, and that they can work together for a future that is truly worthy of their ambitions for the places they love.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details on how Pride in Place will rebuild community cohesion and inclusion.

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Q4 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Community Security Local Government
Context

The Edinburgh West constituency was not considered for the Pride in Place programme despite areas like Drylaw and Stenhouse having particular problems.

Question

Does the Minister share my disappointment that my constituency of Edinburgh West was the only one in Edinburgh that was not considered for a Pride in Place programme, including areas like Drylaw and Stenhouse which have particular problems that could have been helped by this programme?

Answer from Kirsty McNeill

The hon. Member and I have had a chance to discuss this matter previously and, as I have indicated, these are Labour priorities guided by Labour values. We have committed to targeting funding at the places that need it most, based on a double deprivation index, and I am afraid her constituency simply did not qualify.

Not addressed: The Minister avoided discussing the specific reasons for excluding Edinburgh West from the programme by referring to Labour values and criteria unrelated to the question.

How: Deflecting With Labour Values, Referring To [K General Funding Criteria

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Q5 Alex Easton Ind North Down
Scotland Community Security
Context

There is a need for targeted funding in Scotland and the UK to bring long-term vacant premises back into productive use.

Question

Does the Minister accept that if Pride in Place in Scotland is to mean anything, as with elsewhere in the UK, it must include targeted funding for high streets and town centres to bring long-term vacant premises back into productive use?

Answer from Kirsty McNeill

That is precisely one of the focuses of the Pride in Place programme. Our high streets have been neglected for far too long and are at the real heart of community pride. I am delighted that so many of the Pride in Place bids are focused on exactly that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details on how the programme will address targeted funding for high street revitalisation.

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