Macduff Marine Aquarium and Peterhead projects supported by Levelling Up Fund
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A funding application to modernise and expand Macduff Marine Aquarium and transform a historic Peterhead building has been successful.
The UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund has awarded £20 million to Aberdeenshire, which will go towards the aquarium project and converting Peterhead’s disused Arbuthnot House into a new museum, library and cultural hub.
Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid said: “I’m delighted the UK Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the north-east by awarding Aberdeenshire £20 million through its Levelling Up Fund.
“This money will help to maximise the potential of Banff and Buchan in places such as Peterhead and Macduff while helping to bring forward investment that will benefit communities for years to come.
“I have been working with Aberdeenshire Council throughout the process and I’m pleased these exciting plans will now become a reality.
“Direct investment of this scale from the UK Government is excellent news and there will be further opportunities for other areas across the north-east to prosper from this transformational Levelling Up scheme in the future.
“As Aberdeen’s £20 million Levelling Up award last year shows, direct UK Government funding can significantly improve the opportunities here in the north-east by helping to boost the economy, deliver jobs and rejuvenate our communities."
Under the proposed plans, a significant modernisation of the existing aquarium at Macduff would improve the visitor experience and include expanded exhibits and enhanced facilities.
A spectacular two-storey extension would take advantage of coastal views and include a new café-restaurant, education suite and community space.
The £5.7 million project would also involve an external revamp of the building, a new children’s play area and path links along the coastline.
In Peterhead, £18 million would be invested in the creation of a new "cultural quarter".
The project will revitalise the heart of Peterhead by transforming the disused Arbuthnot House into a new destination museum and cultural hub.
The historic building would be sensitively restored and a striking new extension would house both the town’s library and a new regional museum showcasing Aberdeenshire’s extensive historical collections and artwork.
Multi-purpose and workshop spaces would support participation and learning, whilst a new dedicated facility would attract temporary national exhibitions.
The facility would include a café and restaurant with views of the harbour, and the building’s former walled garden would be transformed into a new public green space.
The existing Arbuthnot Museum and Library building on the town’s St Peter Street would be restored and converted into a new cultural venue with a live entertainment space and dance/music studios on the upper floor.
Commenting on the winning bid in Peterhead, Cllr Leeann McWhinnie (Peterhead North and Rattray) said: “I welcome this announcement today after the disappointment of missing out on the Green Freeport this will be a great boost for Peterhead and the surrounding area.
“Peterhead is a fantastic town and this announcement now gives us the opportunity to showcase that to a wider audience with the introduction of the Cultural Area.”
Cllr Stephen Smith (Peterhead South and Cruden) added: “Arbuthnot House is part of Peterhead’s history but has been left to degrade and decay after a rationalisation of the council’s estate several years ago.
"I’m therefore delighted that this successful bid will mean not only an improved museum and library facility for the town, but also keeps them in the Town Centre.
“My thanks go to the council officers who worked very hard on producing the bid which has brought this investment to Peterhead.”
The major UK Government investment will benefit people across Scotland by spreading opportunity and breathing new life into historically overlooked areas.
A total of 10 projects in Scotland have been allocated more than £177 million from round two of the Levelling Up Fund.
The projects will create jobs, drive economic growth, help restore people’s pride in the places where they live and spread opportunity more equally.
This will drive forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by levelling up and provide the foundations for building a better future in communities across the UK.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Through greater investment in local areas, we can grow the economy, create good jobs and spread opportunity everywhere.
“That’s why we are backing a number of projects with new transformational funding to level up local communities in Scotland.
“By reaching even more parts of the country than before, we will build a future of optimism and pride in people’s lives and the places they call home.”
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “We are firing the starting gun on more than a hundred transformational projects in every corner of the UK that will revitalise communities that have historically been overlooked but are bursting with potential.
“This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth and help to restore local pride. We are delivering on the people’s priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: "It's fantastic to see real momentum gathering as we level up across Scotland. This latest round of UK Government funding will see more than £177 million invested into 10 exciting projects which will breathe new life into communities across Scotland.
"Working with local partners we are boosting culture and leisure in Aberdeenshire, Galloway and Kilmarnock; improving connectivity in Shetland and Dundee; regenerating Greenock and Cumbernauld town centres; unlocking huge swathes of land for green development in East Lothian and Stirling; and helping communities in Fife connect with nature.
"We must and will continue to invest in initiatives that will make a difference to communities and help grow our economy. So far we have announced more than £2.26 billion – including the two Freeports confirmed last week – to bring prosperity and growth to Scotland that is crucial as we tackle the challenges associated with rising energy prices and the increased cost of living."
The major investment announced follows the allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £3.8 billion.
In Scotland there was an allocation of £172 million to eight Scottish projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £349 million.
The Government has also confirmed there will be a further round of the Levelling Up Fund, providing more opportunity to level up places across the UK.
