The Scottish Government has announced a new Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline programme to run from April 2026 to March 2030, with a commitment to spending £30bn.
This is a revised plan following the significant challenges Holyrood faced in delivering the £21bn, which the government set out to do in the 2021-2026 Infrastructure Investment plan.
The new pipeline outlines three main focus areas: net zero and the environment, inclusive growth, and sustainable places.
The programme will provide much-needed development of transport, energy, and public infrastructure, such as expansion of NHS services and improvement of Scottish water delivery.
Additionally, a £4.1bn commitment has been made to build 36,000 affordable homes.
This will come as a welcome development to those facing the housing shortages across the country.
The median age of first-time home ownership has increased to 31 as house prices rise and the average Scottish home now costs £193,000.
The measures will also enhance student lives as the government has also outlined increased skills funding to improve the graduate job market and provide more pathways to work, along with greater investment in digital services to allow improved access to modern learning tools.
Image by Leah Collins for The Student.