Scottish Government

Community involvement

Five nominations were received for outstanding performance and quality in the community involvement category. We recommend 1 Award and 1 Commendation.

1. Delivering and Assessing Pre-Application Community Engagement

Nominees

Scottish Water and Dundas & Wilson CSLLP

Description

This was a detailed audit of community engagement as part of Scottish Water's planning application to provide a cleaner, fresher water supply for Edinburgh. A primary objective was the involvement of the wider community and other stakeholders; gaining public confidence through the openness and accessibility of the team and demonstrating how views were taken into account in the final proposals.

Judges' comments

We were impressed by the effective and efficient management of this project; the awareness of the need for community consultation and pre-planning engagement and a willingness to learn the lessons from the implementation of a similar project. We hope that the community see the many benefits that the scheme has secured. This positive project provides a model of good practice and we wish Scottish Water success in building upon this process for future consultations.

2. Stirling Council Final Draft Core Paths Plan - The Consultations

Nominees

Stirling Council and Stirling Area Local Access Forum

Description

Successful public engagement in the consultation process in delivering a Core Paths Plan from the conception to the production of the Stirling Council Final Draft Core Paths Plan. This involved three informal rounds of consultation to find out what routes people were interested in taking, their views on an initial set of proposed core paths and their reaction to what other people had proposed in each previous consultation stage.

Judges' comments

We were impressed that the project has reached such a wide range of new audiences and commend Stirling Council for trying out new approaches, techniques and venues. The project provides a good way of raising awareness and bringing out local knowledge to benefit residents and visitors. The feedback received from participants only confirms our positive opinion of this project.

3. Leith Docks Outline Planning Application Public Participation Strategy

Nominees

Forth Ports Property Investments Ltd; Turley Associates and Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council

Description

The project involved a comprehensive community participation exercise as part of the outline planning application for Leith Docks, Edinburgh. It was a key component in informing the content of the planning application and the evolution of the Masterplan. The consultation strategy included community workshops, public exhibitions and the use of questionnaires. This integrated the views of the public and stakeholder groups into the development of Forth Ports' development vision, by providing the structure and process through which they could contribute their views.

Judges' comments

We were pleased to learn that the community not only have an increased awareness and understanding of the planning application and the Masterplan process but a strong voice in creating the vision for Leith Docks. Overall, whilst we understood the benefits to providing the public with a voice we were unable to find any particularly innovative community engagement with the consultation process. We congratulate Forth Ports in the operation of their public engagement strategy and wish them well in the future development of Leith Docks.

4. Ellon Masterplan, Pattern Book and Model

Nominees

The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment; Urban Design Associates; Scotia Homes and Aberdeenshire Council

Description

The Ellon project was developed using a collaborative planning and public engagement tool that uses design workshops to ensure that design is at the heart of the development process. It produced 3 strategic development plan outputs: (a) sustainable growth masterplan, an integrated framework to help guide and inspire sensitive regeneration in the town and surrounding local area; (b) pattern book, a collation of detailed patterns ranging in scale from the town and site design through to window patterns and architectural details and (c) model, an interactive wooden model of Ellon and the new proposed settlement.

Judges' comments

We were extremely interested to hear about the proactive approach of the partners to encourage the use of masterplanning to create the sustainable regeneration of the town. It was encouraging to hear that this project managed to promote participation through engagement with the local community, stakeholders and particularly commendable with those who would not normally have been involved in such a scheme. It is acknowledged that the approach is not just a 'one-off' for Ellon but can be adapted for any village to urban city extensions. We recommend an Award.

AWARD

5. Miners Institute and Town Square, Lochgelly

Nominees

Fife Council; Heritage Building Preservation Trust; Fife HARCA; Adam Smith College; Fife Women's Technology Centre; Lochgelly Community Regeneration Forum and Purvis Group - Thomas Menzies

Description

Lochgelly town centre is being transformed through a programme of regeneration activity. Within this context the refurbishment of the Miners Institute and the creation of an adjoining Town Square enhancement combine the re-use of key assets with new design and artwork to create a contemporary image for the town centre that recognises and embraces local history and culture. The project has harnessed expertise, knowledge and resources from within the local community, the voluntary, public and private sector bodies.

Judges' comments

This entry benefited from a clear and comprehensive submission and presentation. Although further detail on the planning process would have been welcomed, we were extremely impressed with this proposal in its significant role as part of a multi-agency approach to tackle deprivation in Lochgelly. We believe that this is an excellent example of effective management in regenerating the fabric of an area while creating and developing employment opportunities. We note the effective partnership and community engagement elements required to progress the project and we look forward to hearing about the future development and regeneration of the town.

We recommend a Commendation.

COMMENDATION