The Tay Cities Region Deal has reported strong progress over the past year, with significant investment continuing to support jobs, skills development, and economic growth across the region.
The latest Annual Performance Report 2024-25 confirms that over £231 million of funding has been approved, with more than £156 million of Scottish and UK Government funding being released. It is helping deliver projects across Angus, Dundee, Fife, and Perth & Kinross.
To date, Deal investment has secured over 5,300 jobs, at a regional and national level. Projects have used their funding allocations to leverage an additional £258 million to benefit the region, representing 65% of the Deal’s overall leverage funding commitment.
Cllr Mark Flynn, Chair of the Tay Cities Joint Committee for 2025, said: “This has been a year of real progress. We are seeing the impact of long-term investment in our communities, from world‑leading innovation facilities through to improved local services and new opportunities for residents. The Deal partners remain focused on delivering benefits that last and ensuring communities feel the value of this work.”
The Deal supports projects across several priority areas including culture and tourism, digital connectivity, low‑carbon transport, skills, and research innovation.
Key achievements over the last year include:
- Perth Museum’s first full year of operation, attracting more than 300,000 visitors and being shortlisted for the Art Fund Museum of the Year award.
- Ongoing transformation of cultural assets including Hospitalfield and Discovery Point, contributing to increased tourism and local participation.
- Major progress in research and innovation projects, such as the Advanced Plant Growth Centre, Abertay cyberQuarter, and Growing the Tay Cities Biomedical Cluster, supporting Scotland’s position in life sciences and agri‑tech.
- Expansion of EV charging capacity at the Broxden Low Carbon Transport Hub, contributing to national net‑zero targets.
- Continued investment in skills programmes including DigiTay, supporting nearly 900 people to upskill or retrain in digital and data roles.
Looking ahead, the Partnership has begun work to review and reshape the Deal programme to ensure projects remain deliverable in the current economic climate.
Cllr George Meechan, Vice Chair for 2025 and incoming Chair for 2026, said: “As we enter the next phase of the Deal, our focus is on ensuring that every project delivers the outcomes promised. The reshaping work underway will help strengthen the programme for the years ahead, ensuring the region continues to benefit from high‑quality jobs, improved services, and sustainable economic growth.”
The Tay Cities Region Deal is a ten‑year investment programme supported by the Scottish and UK Governments, regional councils, higher and further education institutions, and local partners. The programme aims to deliver long‑term economic and social benefits for communities across the region.
About the Tay Cities Region Deal:
The Tay Cities Region Deal is a partnership between local, Scottish and UK governments and the private, academic, and voluntary sectors which seeks to create a smarter and fairer Angus, Dundee, Fife, and Perth & Kinross under the headings Inclusive Tay; Innovative Tay; International Tay; Connected Tay and An Empowered Tay.
The Scottish Government and UK Government will each invest up to £150 million in the Tay Cities Region Deal over 10 years, subject to final approval of robust business cases.
As of 30 September 2025, over £232 million of Government has been approved by Governments and the Partnership for investment and over 5,300 jobs have been created. This central investment from both Governments has the potential to lever in £400 million of investment over 15 years, of which more than £258 million has already been secured by Projects.
