What are case studies?
Case studies share what people and organisations have learned from delivering or developing a project, product or programme. They can help you to see what has worked on the ground and can give you ideas about how to tackle problems. They can also signpost you to people and organisations you may want to talk to.
Key contacts
Andrew Saunders
Director
Ore Valley Housing Association & Fife HARCA
14-116 Station Road
Cardenden
Fife
KY5 0BW
Tel:01592 721917
Email: asaunders@orevalleyha.org.uk
David Fisher
Managing Director
Dearle and Henderson Consultancy Ltd
Thomson Pavilion
West of Scotland Science Park
Glasgow
G20 0XA
Tel: 0141 948 0600
Email: dfisher@d-h.co.uk
In a nutshell
Lochgelly is an ex-mining town in Fife and in recent years has become economically and socially deprived. As a result, many residents have moved away leaving a high proportion of people over the age of 65. The area also has a higher than average number of lone parents, people living on benefits and unemployment than in the rest of Fife. In addition, more than half the population do not own a car. However, the Lochgelly area has a very strong sense or community and belonging and this has been central to its on-going regeneration since 1999.
This project has seen a successful community-lead approach to regeneration that has ensured Lochgelly is seen as a place to live, work and visit. It has boosted the local economy by providing new opportunities for retail, business and training.
As a result, Lochgelly has won numerous awards including most recently the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland's Excellence in Regeneration Award 2010, sponsored by the Scottish Centre for Regeneration.
The issues
Lochgelly faces a range of issues including the need to:
- overcome negative perceptions about living in Lochgelly. The town was described in The Observer as "the last place in Britain people want to live"
- overcome economic stagnation in the area and to revive an economy previously dependent on a thriving mining industry
- tackle the steady decline in the built fabric in some parts of the town centre lowering the amenity of the area
- revitalise the use of the Lochgelly Miners Institute as the epicentre of the local communities' social life
- ensure new affordable housing meets the needs of the local community
What has been done
Lochgelly was identified 10 years ago as one of four priority regeneration areas in Fife. Following a competitive tendering process Fife Housing Association Regeneration Community Alliance (HARCA) were chosen as the preferred delivery partner for regeneration projects within Lochgelly. Housing projects are delivered through Ore Valley Housing Association (Fife HARCA is a subsidiary of Ore Valley Housing Association). A master plan was created for the area through intensive partnership working with Dearle and Henderson Consultancy, consultation with the Lochgelly Regeneration Forum and many working groups and committees of local residents in Lochgelly.
This partnership working has seen a number of projects completed and planned over the past five years including:
- much needed new mainstream and amenity housing involving building of 83 new homes and six retail units between 2006 - 2010
- restored and transformed Lochgelly Miners Club into a Technology and Training centre used by over 100 people per day
- new business centre for start up businesses on the back of £1.75 million Town Centre Regeneration funding to create 10,000 sq feet of new office space, and 21 business incubator units due on site this year, and
- future regeneration opportunities for a new health centre, village square and care village
Private sector involvement
Private sector involvement in the regeneration of Lochgelly has so far been limited to a contractual relationship between Ore Valley Housing Association and Fife HARCA who have commissioned consultancy and construction services involving master planning and implementation activities.
During the implementation phase very positive working relationships have been developed with local contractors and sub-contractors which has added value in terms of training and employment opportunity along with the recirculation of money to the local economy.
The next phases of work, linked the expansion of Lochgelly, will rely much more heavily on private sector house building.
Property acquisition
Having developed fairly organically over the last 100 years, site assembly in Lochgelly has been very complex. A positive partnership with Fife Council has meant a proactive approach to securing land and demolishing buildings in key areas where required.
Lochgelly based Purvis Group, has also provided assistance which has been instrumental in securing land and buildings to support the overall regeneration programme.
Community involvement
Community involvement has been key to all phases of Lochgelly's regeneration. The process began with tenant participation workshops, all of which were well attended. The local community is represented throughout all stages of the regeneration process by the Lochgelly Community Regeneration Forum which has premises in the local area to allow people to air their views on upcoming plans.
The local community has most recently been involved in an environmental audit to determine the current state of green and open spaces in the town. It also welcomed suggestions from the community on the best use for this space. "Walk rounds" and community consultation have also played a key part in the development of Lochgelly's environmental plan.
Outcomes
This partnership approach is demonstrated, in particular, by the Miners Institute project. In this case, Dearle and Henderson, Fife HARCA, Fife Council and the Heritage Building Preservation Trust worked together to
- identify a successful new use and end user for the building
- formulate a sustainable and deliverable business model
- complete the renovation of this important building for the benefit of the community
The Lochgelly Miners Institute delivers both physical and social regeneration by improving the appearance and perception of Lochgelly Main Street and by providing a range of training and education opportunities for the local community and beyond. This building, which was once derelict, is now used by over 100 people each day.
Overall, the regeneration of the Lochgelly Miners Institute has brought together a number of disparate organisations and collectively focussed their skills and enthusiasm. The result has been to deliver a landmark building which forms a beacon of hope for the future physical regeneration of Lochgelly.
One great thing - Community taking ownership
The regeneration of Lochgelly involved the community from a very early stage and was seen as being key to the successful delivery of the project. Partners took on board a wide range of local residents' and businesses' views when developing and evolving the master plan so that the community could take ownership of the end product.
Top five lessons learned
- Community involvement - involving the local community can provide valuable support and background information to aid the regeneration process. Involvement of the local community leads to the provision of facilities which local people approve and take pride in.
- Robust partnership working across a variety of projects has meant that the resultant partnership has a firm understanding of the local area and good working relationships are in place to overcome any problems which may arise.
- There are a variety of funding options available to progress plans and all of the available avenues should be explored in gaining funding for a project.
- There is a need to identify, assess and manage risks on an ongoing basis throughout delivery. The associated risk needs to be managed within an appropriate organisational structure led by highly committed individuals.
- Successful regeneration projects require high levels of stamina, there are likely to be great difficulties to be overcome in the identification, design and implementation of projects and determination is needed.
Scottish Centre for Regeneration
This case study is published by the Scottish Centre for Regeneration, which is part of the Scottish Government. We support our public, private and voluntary sector delivery partners to become more effective at:
- regenerating communities and tackling poverty
- developing more successful town centres and local high streets
- creating and managing mixed and sustainable communities
- making housing more energy efficient
- managing housing more efficiently and effectively
We do this through:
- coordinating learning networks which bring people together to identify the challenges they face and to support them to tackle these through events, networking and capacity building programmes
- identifying and sharing innovation and practice through publishing documents detailing examples of projects and programmes and highlighting lessons learned
- developing partnerships with key players in the housing and regeneration sector to ensure that our activities meet their needs and support their work
Scottish Centre for Regeneration
Scottish Government
Highlander House
58 Waterloo Street
Glasgow
G2 7DA
Tel: 0141 271 3736
Email: contactscr@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.partnersinregeneration.com
The views expressed in case studies are not necessarily shared by the Scottish Government.
March 2010