Scotland To Lead The UK In Sustainable Development

Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon, has announced an initiative to create eleven new towns/communities, that it is hoped will put Scotland at the forefront of sustainable development. Launched last week, Sturgeon contended that the project will help the government meet its climate change targets, whilst also helping to improve standards of living.

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.


Charrettes are being held for three of the proposed developments by renowned US architect Andres Duany. Duany welcomed another chance to participate in the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative. "I look forward to working with can-do Scottish professionals in what will be a model for an inclusive process," he enthused. "It should be possible to explore a range of techniques in the hope of contributing to the new Scottish planning system." Duany was behind a similar project for another new town at Tornagrain, near Inverness. Incidentally, Duany also designed the setting of the Hollywood blockbuster The Truman Show, and played a major role in the redesign of parts of Louisiana and Mississippi in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Duany is hosting a number of design workshops in Scotland, allowing local residents to participate in plans for the development of Grandhome and Whitestripes in Aberdeen, a mixed use project at Ladyfield in Dumfriesshire and the expansion of Lochgelly in Fife. They will run for three weeks in March 2010 and will feature intensive events focusing on project design.

The Ladyfield project in Dumfries aims to provide an additional 400 new energy-efficient properties and large and small business facilities. Meanwhile, a substantial urban expansion is planned for the north of Aberdeen, with the possibility of building 7,000 new homes. Plans for Fife include extending Lochgelly with 1,750 new homes, accompanied by eco-friendly connections to the existing town centre.

"The project promoters are excited at the opportunity to develop their ideas with the support of Duany... This combination has the potential to put Scotland at the forefront of new approaches to planning and will attract worldwide recognition of Scottish planning" claimed Sturgeon.

National Director of the Royal Town Planning Institute Veronica Burbridge commented: "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."

More updates on Socttish Eco Developments to follow.



Official Scottish Gov Release | BBC Coverage