Moray Council’s elected neighbours have pledged to support the region in its attempt to secure multi-million-pound City Deal funding.
Both the Highland and Aberdeenshire authorities have already been successful in securing UK and Scottish Government support for major infrastructure projects.
Earlier this year, £315million was awarded to rejuvenate Inverness and the surrounding area through a raft of proposals and £250million was pledged to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Moray is in the process of preparing its own bid for a slice of the cake and has sought local advice on how best to navigate the process.
The centrepiece of the region’s application will be the strength of the region’s food and drink industry, in addition to its construction, defence and engineering links.
Councillor Allan Wright, chairman of the Moray Community Planning Partnership, said: “Moray is ideal for growth funding support.
“It has a developed economic policy and good geographical location which means any project within Moray will impact on other areas of Scotland.
“There is great competition for this funding, so we need to create a vision of what we want Moray to look like in the future with housing and roads and then work with the community and our neighbours, such as Highland and Aberdeenshire councils, to create a strong bid and benefit the region as a whole.”
A £12million business park at Barmuckity on the outskirts of Elgin, which could create up to 4,000 jobs through a hotel, housing and industrial complex has also been earmarked as part of the bid.
Last week, the proposals received a boost when the Scottish Government’s Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay, agreed to help draw up an application.
A Highland Council spokesman added: “Our director of development and infrastructure, Stuart Black, has spoken to officers from Moray about our experience and the importance of developing a compelling vision and coherent set of projects.
“Having gone through the application process ourselves, we are happy to give advice and any necessary assistance.”
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “Given our part in the success of securing a deal for Aberdeen city and shire, we’re in a good position to offer advice and we will be happy to speak to Moray Council as their plans develop.”
