The latest round of Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) funding was announced in Scotland today.

Applications for the £10m worth of funding will open early in the new year with a closing date of 31 August 2014. It is open to local and national park authorities, community groups and other third sector organisations delivering multi-funded projects.

CARS has invested £26m in projects across Scotland since 2007, and has attracted three times as much match funding. It specifically targets conservation areas with social and economic disadvantages which make it difficult to attract investment in sustainable regeneration.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, says: “Investment in our historic environment is key to contributing to an improved quality of life for many people across Scotland. Not only does CARS breathe new life into our communities, it is instrumental in stimulating economic growth through new employment opportunities and promoting traditional skills, as well as boosting the local tourism industry.”

This coincides with an independent analysis into Historic Scotland, which showed that its financial support has generated an additional £166m worth of investment in the historic environment between 2007 and 2012.