What are case studies?
Case studies share what people and organisations have learned from delivering or developing a project or programme. They can help you to see what has worked on the ground and give you ideas about how to tackle problems. They can also signpost you to people and organisations you may want to talk to.
Key contact
Colin Frame
Falkirk Community Football Stadium
Westfield
Falkirk
FK2 3DZ
Email: Colin.Frame@falkirk.gov.uk
Website: www.myfuturesinfalkirk.co.uk
In a nutshell
The Stenhousemuir Town Centre redevelopment is a 6.48 hectare (16.02 acres) mixed use development, located in the centre of the town. The site is bound on the north by the B905, and includes part of King Street and Main Street, the main shopping streets in the town centre, and Crownest Park which forms the southern part of the site.
The regeneration plans for Stenhousemuir town centre have a major role to play in the success of the My Futures in Falkirk initiative which aims to transform the Falkirk areas economy into a thriving, diverse, modern economy that attracts businesses and visitors into the area and provides jobs for local people.
The issues addressed
Stenhousemuir town centre faced a range of issues including:
- poor access routes to the town centre from the main arterial routes passing Stenhousemuir
- shopping facilities which did not meet the needs of local consumers and poor quality residential accommodation
- high levels of consumer leakage to surrounding towns and out-of-town shopping facilities
- crime and vandalism issues within the local park, leading to the community rarely using the greenspace and facilities available
The approach
The Structure Plan identified a growing local catchment population in the Stenhousemuir area. Therefore, to meet anticipated consumer demand and to ensure the future viability of Stenhousemuir, the key focus centered around the development of a new 40,000 sq ft Asda food store with parking facilities to act as an anchor for the remainder of the development.
Further regeneration plans for the town centre included:
- more than 34,000 sq ft of retail space in three single story blocks
- new library overlooking the local park to encourage natural surveillance
- new medical centre
- new access road to the town centre
- new football pitch with changing facilities
- new community centre with dedicated parking facilities
- landscaped civic spaces
Setting up the work
Private sector involvement
Falkirk Council recognised that the level of capital expenditure required to improve Stenhousemuir town centre could not be met by the council alone and would therefore require substantial private sector funding. Therefore, after a competitive tender process, MacDonald Estates plc was approved as the preferred developer in September 2002.
Property acquisition
Land assembly for the project involved the acquisition of 42 properties and the demolition of a number of dated town centre buildings. One property acquisition involved a two year Compulsory Purchase Order process, where a public enquiry eventually ruled in favour of the local authority.
Community involvement
From the outset, the council gave a commitment to get the local residents of Stenhousemuir to take ownership of the regeneration project. A community engagement model was produced which saw ongoing community meetings take place and the opening of a drop-in centre for local residents to find out how the regeneration project was progressing and to discuss their own thoughts and wishes for the town. The community played a key role in reviewing and adapting the masterplan for their town.
Evidence of success
A recent Household Survey undertaken in Stenhousemuir highlighted the following areas where the community consider the provision to be good or very good:
- choice of shops and food shopping - 82%
- access to centre - 69%
- level of cleanliness - 83%
- attractive place to visit - 54%
- using the centre more often since regeneration - 72%
One great thing - Community taking ownership
The Stenhousemuir town centre development 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 community views when developing and evolving the masterplan so that the local residents and businesses could take ownership of the end product.
Top five lessons learned*
*From a local authority perspective
- It is important when assessing developer submissions and appointing a preferred developer, that submissions are reviewed through a cross-service group of local authority officers. This helps all areas to buy-in to the choice of developer and can provide stronger internal support for the project.
- Make sure you have the support of the community through continuous consultation. This supports the delivery process and provide a new town centre that they community have helped deliver.
- It is essential to involve the planning department at as early a stage as possible. Planning should be asked to comment on any masterplan before it goes to the community for consultation.
- Agreements between the local authority and preferred developer should be as detailed as possible to prevent future disagreements when work has commenced.
- On taking forward site assembly acquisitions, it is important to work alongside the developer. This allows the local authority to have a clear understanding of all negotiations taking place should a Compulsory Purchase Order requirement arise.
Further information
Colin Frame
Principle Surveyor
Falkirk Council
Falkirk Community Football Stadium
Westfield
FK2 3DZ
Email: Colin.Frame@falkirk.gov.uk
Website: www.myfuturesinfalkirk.gov.uk
Scottish Centre for Regeneration
This document 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 Centre for Regeneration or the Scottish Government.
March 2010