The Scotland’s Towns Team have lately been invited to a few events that have highlighted the great work being done across the UK, in placemaking our towns and cities. Here in Scotland, Dundee has been making great strides to deliver the next phase of its regeneration plan, the plans for which were discussed at the Dundee Economic Summit in June. South of the border examples such as Oldham show how a strong town centre focus and collaborative working can create tangible change and transformation. Scotland’s Towns Partnership Chief Officer, Kimberley Guthrie, enjoyed a tour of the town to showcase how organisations there are ‘building a better Oldham’.
Two very different places, delivering similarly impressive results. Here’s a little more insight into each.
Dundee
Dundee’s regeneration efforts are a great example of cross-sector working and ‘big picture’ thinking. Public funding, inward investment, and community regeneration are all contributing to ambitious plans for the wider City. Notable developments include £20 million Levelling Up Partnership with UK Government that will support projects in key growth areas including digital, green skills, housing, and city centre improvements; regeneration funding from Scottish Government to support the conversion of a former tram depot into a site fit for a new museum; continuing investment into the city’s Waterfront district; and the Eden Project Scotland being set to transform the former gasworks into a national centre for green tourism and regeneration.
Speaking at Dundee’s Economic Summit, our Chief Officer applauded the City’s joined-up, multi-sector approach, as well as the supporting focus that has been placed on transport, digital infrastructure, and the development of the Business Improvement District, which will also help to put businesses at the heart of the ongoing efforts for the city. The City is also a supporter of ‘Loves Local’ and its use a tool to retain and circulate local, economic wealth.
Oldham
A similarly collaborative effort, in a very different place, can be seen in Oldham. A large town around seven miles from Manchester City Centre, Oldham is taking a people-centred approach to its regeneration. But it’s also successfully leveraging private and public sector funding to deliver strong results in its town centre. Chief Officer, Kimberley Guthrie noted the town’s key successes as:
Council employees relocating into the Spindles Shopping Centre, creating a renewed purpose for the centre and bringing additional footfall in the form of 2,000 employees.
Prioritisation of town centre living. Through an innovative partnership with placemakers, Muse, the place partnership will bring 2,000 new homes to the area in a new neighbourhood that’s built around key values of community, sustainability, and heritage.
Repurposing town centre assets in response to the community’s wishes. The Egyptian Room, a redevelopment of part of the Town Hall, brings local vendors into street-food style kiosks, with place to eat, drink, and socialise, and brought to life with music and entertainment.
Regenerative land management techniques which are transforming derelict space for communities to enjoy, but with economic impact too. Northern Roots Urban Farm and Eco Park will not only be a visitor destination, but it will also provide training for new skills (like green skills) and protect vital biodiversity, whilst boosting the local economy.
And finally, delivering all this regeneration and development work, whilst recognising the importance of green space. A sizeable, linear park at the centre of the town will be an outdoor space for the community to enjoy and planted in such a way to improve local biodiversity.
There are so many fantastic examples of people centred regeneration across our large and small towns and cites, if there are opportunities and exemplars you would like us to share please get in touch.
STP is the national collective for all things towns and places whereby we are growing our local economies and ensuring that we provide enough good reasons for people to want to live,work, visit and enjoy their own local places.
There are so many fantastic examples of people-centres regeneration across our towns and cities, of all size and scope. If there are opportunities and exemplars you would like us to share, please get in touch.
STP is the national collective for all things towns and places. We are growing our local economies and ensuring that we provide enough good reasons for people to live, work, visit, and enjoy their local places.
To keep up to date with everything Scotland’s Towns Partnerships is involved in, follow us on LinkedIn.
