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Plans for low carbon communities
01/03/2010
An internationally acclaimed designer is in Scotland today to help create a blueprint for the towns and cities of the future.
Andres Duany, who drew up designs for rebuilding work in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, is set to run design workshops, known as 'charrettes' in Dumfries, Aberdeen and Fife.
The projects are taking part in a Scottish Government initiative to develop sustainable communities that offer residents a high quality of life on a low-carbon footprint.
Teams will be working on large and small scale projects, from reshaping existing neighbourhoods to creating new housing developments, community facilities and transport links to offices and schools.
A major urban expansion is envisaged for the North side of Aberdeen, with the possibility of building 7,000 new homes in a series of live and work neighbourhoods.
The Ladyfield project in Dumfries looks to offer up to 400 new energy efficient homes and large and small business premises to allow people to live within walking distance to work.
In Fife plans are being developed for to extend Lochgelly with 1,750 new homes and environmentally friendly connections to the existing town centre.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is formally launching the initiative at an opening event in Edinburgh today (Monday), alongside Mr Duany and a number of council leaders, workshop teams and architecture and design industry professionals.
Speaking ahead of the event Ms Sturgeon said:
"Scotland is leading the way on reducing our carbon footprint and introducing modern measures for modern times, to help meet our ambitious climate change targets.
"Creating sustainable communities will help us become less reliant on fuel consumption and boost our standard of living.
"This goes hand in hand with helping people to reduce household fuel bills, work locally and being able to walk to the shops and work without relying on a car.
"I know the projects are incredibly excited to have a unique opportunity to develop their ideas for aspirational sustainable developments with the support of Andres Duany.
"This combination has the potential to put Scotland at the forefront of new approaches to planning and development and will attract world-wide interest and recognition of Scottish planning, design and creations.
"The plans will also provide opportunities for Scotland's construction sector, something which, as we work towards economic recovery, it is vital we take advantage of."
Andres Duany said:
"It will be a privilege to participate in the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative.
"I look forward to working with can-do Scottish professionals and with the public in what will be a model for an inclusive process.
"Given the diversity of sites it should be possible to explore a broad range of techniques, all in the hopes of contributing to the new planning system being developed for Scotland.
"I very much enjoy working with the spirit of innovation and debate which is in the air."
Director of Planning Allan Lundmark from Homes for Scotland, the representative body for the Scottish home building industry said:
"Helping to build low-carbon sustainable communities is the central aim of the industry. To deliver the new homes Scotland needs at affordable prices while ensuring we build sustainable places will present considerable challenges.
"The lessons from this initiative will help us meet these challenges and it is an excellent example of the gains that can be achieved when Government works in partnership with the private sector."
National Director of the Royal Town Planning Institute Veronica Burbridge said:
"The series of charrettes offer a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate the collaborative approach that the modernised planning system in Scotland can deliver in a truly exemplary way.
"The process has the potential to focus professionals in the private and public sectors, as well as local communities.
"At a time when the economic climate presents an additional challenge, initiatives such as the charrettes series can improve quality and help to secure consensus in the planning and design process and act as a template for the successful future delivery of sustainable communities across the country."
In June 2008 the Scottish Government launched the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative to encourage the creation of communities where people can have a high quality of life while reducing their carbon footprint. Eleven projects across Scotland were selected in May 2009 and awarded recognition that they are working towards creating a Scottish sustainable community.
The eleven projects are: An Camas Mor in Aviemore, Craigmillar in Edinburgh, Grandhome & Whitestripes in Aberdeen, Knockroon in Cumnock, Ladyfield in Dumfries, Lochgelly in Fife, Maryhill Locks in Glasgow, Raploch in Stirling, Speirs Locks in Glasgow, Tornagrain near Inverness, Whitecross in Linlithgow.
Mr Duany will work with three projects - Ladyfield in Dumfries, Grandhome & Whitestripes in Aberdeen and Lochgelly in Fife. The charrettes will run for three weeks in March 2010 and will involve intensive events focusing on project design.
Andres Duany is a founding principal at Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ). In the years since the firm first received recognition for the design of Seaside, Florida, in 1980, DPZ has completed designs for close to 300 new towns, regional plans, and community revitalisation projects.