New heritage body Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has allocated £10m (US$14.7m, €13.2m) to repair and restore the built environment while helping to stimulate economic regeneration for communities across the the country.

HES – which replaced Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland in October 2015 – will use the fund to help resurrect Scottish high streets, provide new employment opportunities and allow communities to better utilise their heritage for the future through tourism promotion.

“Our investments the length and breadth of Scotland both support and inspire people and communities to utilise their heritage for the future,” said Dr David Mitchell, acting chief executive for Historic Environment Scotland. “What we aim to do is to facilitate decision making at a local level with funding allocated to priority projects which have a key focus on the wider contribution that the historic environment brings to communities.”

The funding, which is available over a period of five years, will be distributed through the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS). With applications open until 31 August, each round of funding is open to local and national park authorities, community groups and other third-sector organisations.