South of Scotland projects 'could unlock £31.8bn investment'

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has been in southern Scotland to discuss new research which has identified more than 200 projects with the potential to unlock £31.8bn in investment.

She was chairing the Convention of the South of Scotland on the Crichton campus in Dumfries.

Commissioned by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) the research highlights projects covering areas including clean energy, technology and tourism.

Gilruth said there was a "real opportunity" to use the opportunity provided by the report to drive economic growth across the region.

She added that the government was always in "listening mode" but she was well aware of some of the big issues facing the area.

"It would be remiss of me as a former transport minister not to come here and talk about transport," she said.

She said that had been part of her talks with the council as well as the unique challenges facing the region in terms of connectivity and how that affected education, health and housing.

Gilruth added that she recognised that some business and employment opportunities could prove contentious.

One such project is the potential data centre at Chapelcross.

"Where there are employment opportunities, the government will always champion that," she said.

"But we also need to measure that against the environmental impacts and that's why we've been very clear on these matters in terms of that wider guidance that will flow to planning authorities such as Dumfries and Galloway.

"So we'll continue to work with communities on that in terms of driving that economic growth."

She said she was keen to discuss how the opportunities presented in the new report could be used to drive forward jobs growth, help the housing market and see real inward investment.

Russel Griggs, who chairs SOSE, added: "This report highlights the scale of opportunity we have in the south of Scotland, and it can only get bigger and better.

"Given the right investment, and the housing, transport and skills to support it, it will help the south of Scotland's economy grow further and make a powerful contribution to Scotland's national economy and growth ambitions."

Full details of the report will be released next week.