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The Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative - Two years on is a report launched on March 17, 2011 which provides an overview of 11 SSCI exemplar projects and the approaches taken by their project teams, describing their achievements and also the challenges faced over the past two years.

SSCI Charrette Mainstreaming Programme was launched March 3, 2011

Background

The Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative(SSCI) was launched in June 2008 to encourage the creation of places, designed and built to last, where a high quality of life can be achieved. Local authorities, landowners, the development industry and others were invited to submit proposals which demonstrated ambition in addressing a number of principles.

The Initiative is about creating places which are ambitious and inspiring, raising standards and developing skills in design, architecture and sustainable construction. It is also about taking a long term view and is concerned with outcomes and delivery.

68 participants

The SSCI attracted significant interest and 68 submissions from a variety of sources in locations across Scotland. These submissions range from large scale urban regeneration to very small rural projects.

Assessment

The criteria for assessment of the submissions was set against the five questions in the SSCI, and was carried out by Scottish Government officials representing various policy interests; along with key partners including Scottish Natural Heritage, Transport Scotland, Homes for Scotland and Architecture + Design Scotland. An Assessment Panel, chaired by the Scottish Government's Chief Planner, was appointed to consider the submissions and provide advice to Ministers.

SSCI exemplars

Eleven proposals are awarded recognition that they are working towards "Creating a Scottish Sustainable Community". These exemplar projects have been selected as best capable of demonstrating how sustainable communities can be delivered. Click on the thumbnails below to view the video presentations. If you are unable to view these presentations, they are also available on the Scottish Government You Tube Channel

SSCI Charrette Series

The SSCI Charrette Series took place in March 2010 and involved Andres Duany and a team of experts working on detailed design workshops with three of the selected SSCI exemplar projects. The workshops or 'charrettes' took place at Ladyfield in Dumfries, Lochgelly in Fife and at Grandhome and Whitestripes in Aberdeen. The report on the charrettes is here.

SSCI Charrette Mainstreaming Programme Building on the success of the SSCI Charrette Series which ran in March 2010, the Scottish Government has launched a new charrette programme, aimed at mainstreaming this innovative approach to development in the built environment within Scottish design and planning practice.

Sustainable Design Ideas Competition

SSCI Sustainable Design Ideas Competition, Whitecross, Linlithgow As part of the SSCI, a design competition is being run, in collaboration with the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), based around the SSCI exemplar site at Whitecross, near Linlithgow. The focus of the competition was on realisable, sustainable designs and the final submissions were made by design/developer partnerships.

Publications

• It has been announced that the internationally acclaimed designer, Andres Duany, will be working with 3 projects - Lochgelly, Ladyfield and Grandhome & Whitestripes, as part of the SSCI support package.' Read the full press release (14 October 2009)
• The Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative Report - outlines the assessment process undertaken and summarises the submissions received.
• SSCI Submissions