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Scottish Government to help finish Edinburgh trams project |
Overall budget for the project is now £776m
The Scottish Government is to help oversee the final delivery of the Edinburgh trams project.
The remaining £72m Scottish Government grant will also be reinstated to the project now that the route to St Andrews Square has been similarly reinstated.
Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil announced that a team of experienced project managers from Government agency Transport Scotland will fill key senior roles in the new governance structure with City of Edinburgh Council.
Working alongside managers from the local authority, the Transport Scotland team will work closely with the Council’s own team to provide strong managerial and technical assistance to ensure the delivery of a viable tram service between St Andrews Square and Edinburgh Airport for Scotland’s capital city.
As part of the agreement with the City of Edinburgh Council, Ministers will have the power to direct strategic project decisions and will also be given regular progress updates from the project team.
CEC has calculated that the overall budget for the project is now £776m, comprising of a base budget of £742m and a risk allowance of £34m.
This increase of £231m above the original project budget of £545m will be funded through the Council’s prudential funding facility.
Neil said: "Now that that link has been reinstated, it is vital that the remaining stages of the trams project is delivered on time and within the £776m budget that we are advised by CEC is needed to complete the route to St Andrews Square by Summer 2014."
Further information:
Transport Scotland |
