HUNDREDS of jobs are to be created by a £30 million development comprising restaurants, bars, shops, a cinema, gyms, housing and car-parks in a Scottish city.
More than 150 posts and over 350 construction and supply jobs will be created after the Mill Quarter was given the go ahead in Perth. It is hoped the centre will attract around 300,000 visitors every year to the complex which is to be built the site of the Thimblerow car-park.
The scheme was secured by Perth and Kinross Council and helped by collaborative marketing undertaken by the Scottish Cities Alliance, a partnership between the seven cities and the SNP Government.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney, who made the announcement at Perth Concert Hall, said: "If Scotland's cities thrive so too does the rest of the country, and I am pleased to announce this exciting new £30 million venture for Perth.
"By providing a unique new destination for restaurants, retail and leisure, the Mill Quarter development will boost the local economy by creating jobs and attracting visitors to the area.
"The Scottish Cities Alliance provides a single point of contact for potential investors to access all seven Scottish cities. This success clearly signals the benefits of our cities and the Scottish Government working together in partnership. I am delighted that this is the first deal to be done, and I hope it will be the first of many."
Councillor Andrew Burns, Chair of the Scottish Cities Alliance said: "This is a fantastic result for the city of Perth and my congratulations go to everyone involved in bringing the deal to fruition.
"Of course, it's also a demonstration of the great benefits to be gained from partnership working between the seven cities, with our recent presence at investor events such as MIPIM clearly paying dividends.
"I am quite sure that, thanks to our ongoing collaboration and, in particular, to the development of the Investment Prospectus, we can look forward to attracting many more major investments from across the globe."
Councillor John Kellas, Convener of Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee at Perth and Kinross Council, said: "Expresso Property's proposals will provide a welcome addition to the City's local economy, driving additional employment and adding to the spend potential across the entire City Centre.
"As the population grows, a development of this nature further establishes Perth as a city in which to invest, work and live in, and is an embodiment of Perth and Kinross Council's Perth City Plan.
"The location of the development will be of extra significance, as we begin to witness the emergence of an attractive cultural quarter within the city."
Expresso Property is the preferred developer.
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