A groundbreaking project which aims to turn the area around the River Leven in Fife into a beautiful and biodiverse public park has received another funding boost.
Plans for the 4km Leven River Park secured nearly £3 million in National Lottery support earlier this week, with partners in the wider Leven Programme looking to deliver an accessible and attractive amenity space for local communities that will also drive investment and create opportunities for training and learning.
Now councillors on Fife Council’s Levenmouth Area Committee have now buoyed the project further by approving a £850,000 grant through the Levenmouth Reconnected Programme’s Large Grant Scheme - effectively part funding year one of the four-year River Park initiative.
The Levenmouth Reconnected Programme was set up to maximise the economic and social opportunities presented by the reopened Levenmouth Rail Link, with a £10 million fund – managed by Fife Council – made available by the council and the Scottish Government to support local initiatives.
Following councillor backing today, the River Park application – which was submitted by the Green Action Trust - becomes the 11th major project to receive large grant funding via the Levenmouth Reconnected Programme since its first funding round opened back in 2021.
Councillor Colin Davidson, convener of the Levenmouth Area Committee, said: “The Levenmouth Reconnected Programme has supported a range of worthwhile projects, both large and small, over the last few years, and we’re delighted to add the River Park project to that list.
“The River Park is part of a wider initiative that aims to regenerate the whole Leven valley, making it a great place to live, work and visit, whilst fostering climate resilience, boosting health and wellbeing and delivering learning and development opportunities to support and sustain employment.
“All partners are determined to involve the community at all stages of this project, and we’re committed to meeting people’s aspirations for improvements and enhancements to the River Leven corridor and access to it.”
The first phases of the River Accessibility project – path and boardwalk provision – and the proposed Nature Network – planting, habitat enhancement, wetland and pond creation - will be delivered in year one, alongside a number of other engagement activities and events to support the development of the Leven River Park Programme.
As well delivering new infrastructure, a key focus is to bring to life Levenmouth’s heritage through dedicated spaces that will encourage exploration and investigation of the area’s industrial and societal past.
Pauline Silverman, Director of Strategy, Green Action Trust said: “Not only will the River Park forge better access to the river and between communities, it will also create opportunities for improved health, well-being and economic prospects that will benefit the local community for years to come.”
The full grant offer of £850,000 is conditional on approval of infrastructure designs by Fife Council as the ultimate asset owner; clarification of the split of LRP grant and other funding sources for year one activities; continued engagement with Fife Council officers to ensure infrastructure is delivered within the LRP programme; co-operation with Fife Council’s Roads and Transportation Service on co-ordination of the delivery of the Nature Network and River Accessibility projects.; and agreement on a reporting plan to the Levenmouth Area Committee on outputs and outcomes of the programme.
For more information on the River Park project and the wider Leven Programme, please visit https://www.theleven.org/.
Notes:
The River Park delivery partners are Green Action Trust, SEPA, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, Fife Council, and Archaeology Scotland.
Green Action Trust identified the LRP Large Grant award as part of their match funding for the four-year River Leven Programme which totals £5.2m.
The process to approve grant awards from the £10m Levenmouth Reconnected Programme (LRP) fund was approved by the Policy & Coordination Committee on 13 May 2021.
The committee agreed that Large Grant applications, seeking over £5,000 (up to a maximum of £5m), would be assessed by the Levenmouth Reconnected Working Group panel with a recommendation made to the Levenmouth Reconnected Oversight Group for approval.
The final decision on grant awards is then made by the Levenmouth Area Committee.
A total of 20 applications were received in the fourth funding round of the Levenmouth Reconnected Programme.
The Working Group Assessment Panel reviewed and scored these projects and recommended four for funding – three of which had funding approved in August.
The Leven River Park Project was reviewed by the Oversight Group and further detail was requested ahead of the recommendation on a funding award.
