Plans have been submitted asking for £800k of council funding to help with a regeneration plan of Annan.

The funding would unlock a vital component of the development master plan for the town, the BBC has said.

If approved, the money would be used to upgrade the Winermere Road in the town, which would then allow for the development of a new business park and a major housing complex. The project is dependent on the completion of road improvements.

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A report submitted to the local authority's Policy and Resources Committee stated that the issue of a lack of funds created a significant barrier to progress and risked the delivery of the Annan regeneration masterplan.

Neither Scottish Enterprise or the owner of the site has the funds currently available to finance the work, so Dumfries and Galloway Council is being asked to provide the upfront costs of £800k. A legal clause in the agreement would mean the authority could then recoup 80% of the money from the land owners over an eight-year period.

The council contribution of 20% - or £160k – would recognise the significant improvement the work would make to the main access road into Annan town centre.

(JP/MH)