Connecting Montrose - Infrastructure Improvements

Connecting Montrose is a £2.6 million investment through the Tay Cities Deal Angus Fund that will strengthen transport connections, unlock economic growth and support the transition to a low‑carbon economy in Montrose and North Angus.

The project provides essential enabling infrastructure to support Montrose’s expanding role as a regional hub for offshore wind, clean energy, logistics and innovation. By improving safety, resilience and access across the transport network, Connecting Montrose will help local businesses grow, attract new investment and ensure people can access jobs and opportunities more easily.

Current status: Seeking Outline Business Case approval.

Why this investment matters:

Montrose is at the centre of major economic opportunity:

Montrose Port is now a nationally recognised operations and maintenance hub for offshore wind.
Strategic development sites at Zero Four, the Montrose Port Industrial Park, and other locations north and south of the town offer significant potential for business growth.
The renewable energy transition presents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to create skilled jobs and increase regional productivity.
However, growth is currently constrained by transport bottlenecks, safety challenges and climate vulnerability across key routes. Connecting Montrose addresses these barriers so that investment, jobs and economic value stay in Angus.

An aerial view of a busy harbor with several large industrial and offshore supply vessels docked at piers or anchored in the channel, leading toward a bridge and a coastal town under a bright, cloud-filled sky.

What the project will deliver:

Supporting jobs, productivity and GVA

The project will:

Improve access to employment sites at Montrose Port and key development areas.
Support job creation across energy, engineering, logistics, construction, retail and hospitality.
Increase productivity by reducing delays, improving journey reliability and strengthening supply‑chain resilience.
Help Montrose capture greater economic value from the renewables sector and retain skilled workers locally.
Investment in enabling infrastructure has a multiplier effect: making it easier for businesses to operate, expand and invest, while strengthening the wider local economy.

Two complementary investment packages

Roads – Economic Package (£1.54m)
Targeted upgrades to key junctions and bridges on the A92 and A937 corridors will:

Improve access for HGVs serving Montrose Port and industrial sites.
Increase network reliability and resilience.
Support efficient movement of people and goods.
Improve links between the rail station, town centre, employment areas and development sites.
Future‑proof critical infrastructure against climate impacts.

These improvements directly support business confidence, inward investment and economic competitiveness.

Roads – Safety Package (£1.1m)
A series of traffic‑calming measures and new controlled crossings across Montrose, Brechin and Hillside will:

Make everyday journeys safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
Improve access to schools, town centres, public transport and local services.
Encourage walking, wheeling and cycling.
Reduce the risk and severity of road collisions.
Deliver inclusive benefits for older people, disabled residents and communities with higher levels of deprivation.

The safety package alone is forecast to deliver a strong value‑for‑money return, with benefits outweighing costs over the project’s lifetime.

Clean growth and climate resilience

Connecting Montrose aligns fully with Scotland’s net‑zero ambitions and the Tay Cities Deal Mercury Programme. The investment will:

Support the renewable energy supply chain and clean‑growth industries
Encourage more active and sustainable travel
Reduce emissions from congestion and unreliable journeys
Improve drainage and infrastructure resilience in the face of more extreme weather
Help future‑proof Montrose’s economy as the energy transition accelerates

Wider community benefits

Beyond economic growth, the project will deliver:

Safer, healthier streets and public spaces
Better access to jobs, education, healthcare and services
Stronger town centres and local businesses
Improved wellbeing, physical activity and social inclusion
A more attractive place to live, work and invest

Delivery and next steps:

Connecting Montrose is being led by Angus Council, with strong governance, stakeholder engagement and a robust benefits‑realisation framework. Subject to final approvals, construction is planned for 2027–2028.

The project has been shaped through extensive engagement with local businesses, the energy and transport sectors, community groups and public agencies to ensure it meets real economic and community needs.