Invest in Stirling
Clustered around a large fortress and medieval old town in the heart of Scotland, Stirling offers an exceptional quality of life and delivers global connectivity at a highly competitive cost. The city has direct access to international markets and has its own progressive University.
Towards the beginning of the year, Stirling was revealed as Scotland’s most affordable city to buy a home in according to figures from the Bank of Scotland. The latest research from the bank’s Affordable Cities Review found that the average cost of a house in Stirling was four times the area’s average wage.
A study carried out by business start-up specialist Quality Formations at the end of 2015 named Stirling as the best city in Scotland to start up a new business. Researchers said that a low cost of living, good travel links and a highly educated workforce earned it the top spot! All 69 cities across the UK were studied, with Stirling taking eighth place overall – ahead of Manchester, London and Birmingham.
Around the same time, the Government announced £200m plans to make the city an “economic and cultural powerhouse.” Through engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders, a group of projects have been identified:
The Harbour
The Harbour will connect Stirling’s city centre and the River to create a new and exciting area of this city. This will include a National Tartan Centre, a centre for third sector innovation, community access to co-located public sector organisations through a shared Civic Space, external performance and events space through a bespoke City Harbour Square and “the Engine Shed” – a unique centre for conservation skills and heritage excellence.
Mercat Cross
The regeneration of Mercat Cross, at the ‘top of the town’, is about focused activity to revitalise this area of the city, through initiatives like a City Market, increased permanent and temporary commercial space and a Cultural Quarter.
Grow-on Space
This will address the shortage of space in the city for incubating and developing the small to medium sized enterprise (SME) sector by providing a bespoke space for established businesses to develop.
City Park
The plan is to create a must-see destination to attract, retain and direct residents and visitors to and throughout the city, connecting with the Back Walk and City Centre.
The River
This project seeks to bring the River Forth back into play as a major driver of Stirling’s economic, cultural and social prosperity. The key elements involved in this project include the development of a river taxi network, expansion and enhancement of pedestrian and cycle paths, development of the peninsulas and associated riverbanks and the incorporation of a barrage to allow water levels and water quality to be controlled.
Digital District
A Digital Hub will be located in the existing Municipal Buildings to provide a dynamic, inspiring and collaborative space where businesses and students come together to create and innovate. A Digital Campus in the Albert Halls is planned to become a leading centre in the UK for conferences, seminars and programmes around digital technology and innovation.
If you would like to read more about Government projects in Scotland, click here!
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