Crown Estate Funding is allocated to Coastal Local Authorities annually to help ensure coastal communities benefit from Scottish Crown Estate marine assets revenue. In order to allocate funding for 2025-26 amounting to £133k, a call for projects was publicised by ourselves in July 2025. This funding is both capital and revenue, and successful projects were expected to contribute to at least one of the following:
- Delivering economic benefit - boosting jobs, supporting businesses or skills development
- Contributing to town and neighbourhood regeneration
- Delivering community benefit, including improved assets or services
- Delivering improvements to the environment.
A total of 17 project proposals were received covering a wide variety of projects across the coastal communities. These project proposals were scored on deliverability, value for money, strategic fit and level of community support. Top scoring projects were approved to be funded, these projects are detailed below and will be delivered by March 2026:
| Project title | Amout requested | Lead organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade of Sandy Playpark (Bantry) and wider beachfront area | £15,000 | Eyemouth Development Trust |
| Marine Skills Training Centre Feasibility Study | £5,000 | Eyemouth Marine Ltd |
| Coldingham Playpark Redevelopment Project | £25,000 | Coldingham Community Council |
| Sea Our Underwater World: Public Aquarium renovation | £35,225 | St Abbs Marine Station |
| Coastal Access and Sustainable Active Travel Project | £27,000 | Sea the Change |
| Fruitful Futures: Development of tree nursery at Eyemouth Community Garden | £8,070 | Abundant Borders |
| Marine Education Centre Feasibility Study | £17,500 | Berwickshire Marine Reserve |