Nicola Sturgeon is outlining the SNP’s plan for local high streets and helping businesses come back from the Covid crisis.

The SNP leader said 20 minute communities were at the heart of the idea where people have access to everything they need within a 20 minute walk of their home.

She will say on a visit to local businesses in Glasgow that there will be cash invested in a number of measures if the SNP is re-elected into government in May.

The plan includes 100% non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation sectors this year, with an investment of £719m.
It will also provide £275m over the next five years to support community-led regeneration and town centre revitalisation. 
To support the development of 20-minute neighbourhoods a £10m “Scotland Loves Local” fund - to encourage people to shop locally when they can, to help keep wealth within their community.
Sturgeon will say:  “We’ll never be able to thank businesses and their employees enough for the sacrifices they have made to help get the virus under control over the last twelve months. Revitalising our town centres and communities was already a priority of the SNP Government before the pandemic struck, but that agenda is now essential.
“If re-elected, we will take forward plans to spend £275m over the life of the parliament to support community-led regeneration and town centre revitalisation - as well as supporting the development of 20-minute neighbourhoods. 
“On top of this significant government investment, all of us can help our communities, and protect and create local jobs, by spending locally when we can, and we’ll build on our Scotland Loves Local campaign to highlight the many benefits of doing so.”