Minister for Sport Shona Robison MSP
“Thank you for your email making the case for the National Performance Centre for Sport to be located in Dundee.
As you may be aware, the proposal to create a National Performance Centre was a key SNP manifesto commitment which this Scottish Government is now turning into a reality with cross-party support in the Parliament.
The main objective of the National Performance Centre is to provide a high quality centre and environment for performance sports, including football, where athletes can be well supported towards achieving the highest standards of performance on the world stage. The Scottish Government has committed up to £25m of funding towards the cost of delivering the NPC, and has set a timescale of 2016 for its completion.
Earlier in the year I announced the setting up of an Expert Steering Group, chaired by Stewart Regan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association, to take forward the project. The Group has been tasked with setting out the criteria for bids from local partnerships wishing to bring the Centre to their area and with agreeing a timetable for completion. Stage One will commence when the Bid Document is launched in December 2012. Stage Two will start in March 2013 following a short-listing process with selection by June 2013.
I and my Ministerial colleagues have agreed that there should be a fair, open and transparent bidding process developed in order to identify a suitable location for the Centre. The Expert Steering Group will manage this process, assess the bids and then make a recommendation to Ministers.
I am aware that there is considerable interest across Scotland about how the task of establishing the Centre is progressing. If you would like any further information on the NPC and/or receive regular updates on this project then please leave your details etc at nationalperformancecentre@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
I hope this is helpful.
Shona Robison
Minister for the Commonwealth Games and Sport”
