Proposals to regenerate Clackmannan have been given the green light after the council agreed actions to deliver new affordable housing, community enterprise facilities and streetscape improvements, as well as the relocation of a local business to new premises.

Over £5 million will be invested in the area; £2.19m will be from the Council's Capital Programme, £2m from the Scottish Government's Economic Development Fund, and £1.1m from the Scottish Government's Housing Grant and Infrastructure Grant.

Following the council's acquisition of the former print works at 59 Main Street, the local authority will sign a formal agreement with Kingdom Housing Association to develop new affordable flats in the Main Street/North Street, with business units below.

Detailed designs will now be subject to planning consent and community consultation.

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In addition, a feasibility study is being undertaken to discover the steps required to introduce a new Community Enterprise Hub within the current CAP adjoining the Town Hall.

A project to improve the streetscape along the Main Street and Port Street/Lochies Road has been formulated in partnership with Clackmannan Community Council and Clackmannan Development Trust. It will seek to address the priorities identified in the Community Action Plan, including local heritage, parking, roads and transport and the appearance of the town.

Acquisition of the Hunters Executive Coaches premises has been completed, and once the relocation to Dumyat Business Park is finalised, the site will be cleared. Plans for the site are at any early stage, however the principal of a social housing development has been agreed as part of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan.

Robert Horne, Chair of Clackmannan Development Trust, said: "The Community Action Plan, which involved extensive local consultation, reflects the priorities of the resident of Clackmannan.

"The plan has provided a focal point to develop a positive partnership with the Council that has ultimately secured funding to fulfil a number of improvement that the community wanted to see happen.

"We are delighted to be able to take these forward over the coming year. There is more to do; the funding will not support everything we set out to do in our action plan, however we see this as a springboard to continue working with the Council and other partners to regenerate and revitalise our community."

(JP/CD)