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SNP’s plans to ‘modernise infrastructure’ unveiled in manifesto

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Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon

The SNP has pledged to build the infrastructure that Scotland needs to grow, with almost £20 billion of investment in roads, rail, schools and 50,000 new homes, should it win the upcoming Holyrood election.

Unveiling its manifesto for re-election yesterday, party leader Nicola Sturgeon revealed the SNP plans to continually review and update the infrastructure pipeline with projects the length and breadth of the country including road, rail and ferries, early years and childcare, and schools and health facilities.

As part of this, the Scottish Futures Trust will continue to review existing PFI/PPP contracts, seeking opportunities to improve value and reduce the cost to the public purse, including ending contracts where possible and appropriate.

The SNP’s investment plan will include:

  • £5bn in rail improvements – including upgrades to the Aberdeen/Inverness line and the Highland Main Line and modernisation of the Glasgow Subway

  • £3.6bn – through Scottish Water – to upgrade water and sewage infrastructure

  • £1.4bn in improvements to the road network – including work on dualling the A9 and A96, bypassing Maybole on the A77 and improving other sections south of Girvan, further improvements to the A75, and exploring how to better connect Dumfries and the M74

  • £63.8 million to complete Dundee’s Waterfront project including the new V&A museum

  • £250m in waste water facilities on the Clyde

  • £200m to expand the Golden Jubilee Hospital and establish five new elective treatment centres in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Livingston and Edinburgh.

    • The party will also prioritise improvements to the road network that connects the East of Scotland and Scottish Borders with England – the A7, A1 and A68 – and will examine the feasibility of extending the Borders Railway to Hawick and Carlisle.

    Ms Sturgeon said: “Modernising infrastructure is a key part of our economic plan. Just as we will invest in 100 per cent broadband coverage to provide the digital connectivity we need to prosper, so we will invest in the physical connections that are crucial to sustainable growth. Over the next Parliament almost £20bn will be invested in a major infrastructure programme designed to help build Scotland’s future.”

    The SNP has instigated a Planning Review that is due to report in the summer. In the next parliament the party will bring forward a Planning Reform Bill based on the recommendations of the Review. This will aim to streamline development planning and management procedures and practices to remove unnecessary blockages and delays.

    The party will also:

    • amend Planning Obligations so they work for the benefit of all and do not cause delays to the completion of projects.

    • introduce a clean land and building clause to the Planning Bill to ensure non-domestic property owners cannot leave their properties in a state of neglect or abandonment.

    • modernise compulsory purchase orders to ensure vacant and derelict land can be brought into use for communities and look at interim measures to achieve this in advance of legislation.

    • simplify local development plans to ensure they are effective for both local communities and developers.

    • ensure that planning enables and facilitates sustainable and appropriate growth and development.

      • In 2017 as Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, the SNP will work with Historic Environment Scotland and partners to create a long-term Infrastructure Investment Plan for restoring, enhancing and conserving the built heritage environment.

      The manifesto also unveiled plans to invest over £3bn over the next parliament to deliver at least 50,000 new affordable houses, of which at least 35,000 will be houses for social rent, and also to continue to support council house building.

      Other housing policies include plans to:

      • Support a further 5,000 households – including 2,000 first time buyers on modest incomes – into home ownership through the Help to Buy and Shared Equity schemes. This will be supported by an initial investment of £160m in 2016/17.

      • Maintain the Land & Building Transaction Tax (LBTT) to support first time buyers.

      • Encourage councils and individuals to bring empty homes into use for rent or purchase through the Empty Homes Partnership, Empty Homes Fund and Town Centre Empty Homes Fund. This will concentrate on rural areas in need of increased housing and town centres that can be rejuvenated and regenerated through such initiatives.

      • Encourage communities to buy property and land that is in a state of neglect through community empowerment legislation and by accessing the Community Empowerment Fund.

      • Provide guidance and timescales for installing affordable accessible housing adaptations for disabled people, or for those who have developed mobility or other disabilities, where they are needed.

      • Consult on a national standard for private rented homes to ensure a good basic standard of accommodation, driving out rogue landlords who exploit tenants in sub-standard accommodation.

      • Invest £25m in rural housing supporting more people to live and work in rural economies.

        • The party also pledges to make existing homes more energy efficient to cut bills, reduce emissions and improve health with an initial investment of £103m in 2016/17 to install energy efficiency measures in a further 14,000 homes. It will prioritise the development of the district heating system and establish a loan fund for this purpose.

        The SNP also plans to introduce a Warm Homes Bill in the next parliament.

        The Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have already launched their manifestos, with Scottish Labour still to unveil theirs.

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