Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed an independent report detailing key recommendations for revitalising Scotland's town centres.

The report, The National Review of Town Centres, was commissioned by the Scottish Government and includes a number of proposals to help restore the areas in question.

These include:

• A 'town centre first' principle whereby public bodies will consider how they can support town centres before considering development elsewhere
• Working with housing providers to bring empty town centre properties back into use as affordable housing
• A town centre focus to review current business rates incentivisation schemes
• A recommendation that public bodies should consider the impact of proposals to relocate services out of town centres
• Broadening the appeal of town centres with a mix of leisure, public facilities and homes.

Leading Scottish architect, Malcolm Fraser chaired the review, which included an independent panel of advisors from a range of organisations including a community representative, Creative Scotland, the Association of Town Centre Management, Ernst and Young, GVA, Architecture Design Scotland, Stirling University, SLAED and Federation of Small Business.

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Welcoming the report, Ms Sturgeon, who is also Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, said: "I would like to extend my thanks to Malcolm Fraser and the rest of the external advisory group for their hard work and commitment on this report.

"The Scottish Government is determined to ensure that our town centres are vibrant places where local people and visitors alike want to spend their time and money. They should be accessible places which invite business start-ups and inspire innovative ideas from all walks of the community. The work of this independent review will play a crucial role in the regeneration of high streets across Scotland.

"We recognise the national review group's passion for finding a future for our town centres and welcome their succinct and insightful review which outlines practical ideas for reenergising these areas.

"Town centres are the lifeblood of our communities, functioning as places of social interaction and enterprise. By diversifying our high streets we will make them even better places to live, work and socialise.

"I look forward to the next phase of the work getting underway, with the first step being a government action plan in the autumn which will take forward the Expert Groups recommendation."

Mr Fraser added: "Our Review offers the Scottish Government, and the people of Scotland, a range of measures to bring investment and footfall into the heart of our communities.

"Town centres offer a rich mix of live, work and play and we want to enhance that bustle and diversity: more people living there, encouragement for communities, businesses and local authorities and supportive planning and digital initiatives. There's wide agreement on the need for action and optimism that the changes proposed can help foster a renewed sense of community and enterprise."

(JP/MH)