New funding has been announced to help transform town centres across Scotland.

The money will go towards efforts to develop empty and underused properties, it is understood.

The Asset Mapping Funding Pots will provide development trusts with the opportunity to conduct surveys, work with stakeholders and consult with their communities on the best way of rejuvenating their town centres.

Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil announced the £50,000 fund on a visit to Clackmannan, whose development trust was established in 2013 in response to issues faced in its town centre and the wider community.

There are currently more than 226 development trusts operating in Scotland. They are owned and managed by the local community with the aim of regenerating or addressing specific economic, social, environmental or cultural issues in their area. The funding will be administered by Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS).

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Mr Neil said: "The Scottish Government is clear, our towns should be vibrant, attractive and safe places where local people and visitors want to spend their time and money.

"Understanding the nature of the assets in a local area – whether it's buildings, artefacts or active community groups – is fundamental to revitalising town centres.

"This new funding will give development trusts opportunities to carry out fact finding exercises and to directly consult with their communities on how town centre activity can be prioritised to meet with their aspirations.

"Across Scotland we are seeing more and more examples of business and residents taking the initiative and regenerating their area. The people who work and live there are the ones best placed to understand, identify and promote the opportunities that lie within their town centre.

"I look forward to seeing how the Trusts who are successful in their bids, use the funding pots to develop plans which will help to prioritise support for local assets, which will then attract new uses, new business and revitalise local economy."

Ian Cooke, Director of DTAS, added: "Communities have a key role to play in leading or contributing to town centre renewal processes.

"These grants will enable a number of communities to explore and define what that contribution might be – whether it is finding productive uses for empty buildings, identifying new enterprise and business opportunities, or running cultural and social activities which support our high streets."

(JP/CD)