Green light for £1.5 million Shopping Centre transformation
Muirhouse Shopping Centre is to be transformed through a £1.52 million Regeneration Grant, it’s been announced. The cash will see sections of the run-down centre demolished and replaced to give the area a new ‘civic heart’ (writes Dave Pickering).
Pennywell is one of 26 regeneration projects set to to benefit from a share of £25 million to help regenerate their areas. The projects will receive funding from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), Housing Minister Margaret Burgess and Cllr Stephen Hagan, COSLA Spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability, announced yesterday.
The fund, which has been developed in partnership with local authorities, supports projects that deliver new and improved infrastructure bringing significant positive outcomes for deprived areas. The funding brings the total number of RCGF projects supported to date to 66.
As well as New Civic Heart for Pennywell Muirhouse, Edinburgh received £1.9 funding to support the regeneration of Fountainbridge through the Castle Mill Works project. Others receiving a share of the funding include:
- £1.8m for Stranraer Town Centre Regeneration Initiative, aiming to improve links within the town centre
- £290K to support the Craigsfarm Community Hub Project in West Lothian, which will create a create a space for recreation and office space
- £1.15m for the Fraserburgh 2021 Project, which aims to redevelop two listed buildings for business and community use.
Mrs Burgess said: “Local people are at the heart of these projects, which, with the help of this funding, will transform the spaces around them. Not only do these projects transform town centres, but they stimulate economic growth, and support and create jobs throughout Scotland.
“Regenerating disadvantaged communities is a priority for this government, and I am delighted to continue to work with local authorities to announce this £25 million investment in a further 26 projects.”
Councillor Stephen Hagan said: “Once again the joint COSLA and Scottish Government RCGF is helping to support projects right across Scotland that will transform communities and improve social, economic, and physical outcomes.
“Projects range from town centre regeneration schemes and community and business hubs, to more heritage based initiatives. The variety of projects being funded highlights the diversity of approaches to regeneration across Scotland, which is tailored and responsive to the needs of local communities.
“Despite the current very challenging financial climate regeneration continues to be a key focus for all Scottish local authorities, and I look forward to seeing these projects come to life and transform our communities over the coming years.”
The city council will lead the New Civic Heart for Pennywell / Muirhouse project, which will undertake the regeneration of the central public area of Pennywell and Muirhouse, replacing select sections of the sprawling 1960’s shopping centre that has fallen into decline with a new central hub and civic square.
The plan anticipates that the square will be surrounded by new homes, health centre and existing library, arts centre and shopping centre.
The community have been at the centre of developing this project, shaping plans to create a ‘civic heart’ to meet current needs and those of future generations in order to replace current negative perceptions. Extensive community consultation has taken place through a master planning process in 2012 and a subsequent place making study carried out in 2014.
The project has been developed in a partnership between the council, North Edinburgh Arts, Urban Union, NHS Lothian, Muirhouse Housing Association and local schools.
The Pennywell project team has endured a long and anxious wait for the government’s decision but they are ‘absolutely delighted’ to get the go-ahead at last.
Forth Councillor Cammy Day, who is also Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This funding is a major boost for the local community and adds to the other exciting projects already taking place in the north of the capital. I’d also like to thank the local people who helped us to make this bid for funding.
“The Pennywell development is Scotland’s largest housing-led regeneration scheme and this funding will allow further improvements, making the area an attractive place where people wish to live, work and play.”
STV Appeal-funded community organisation CAN (Community Action North) has been working with local people to brighten up the dilapidated Centre over the last year.
A spokesperson said: “During our initial consultations the poor state of the Shopping Centre constantly came up in conversations. CAN has initiated projects and held events to bring some life back to the Centre – both our Christmas Tree launch and the recent Wishing Penny-Well event proved very popular with local people – but it’s great news that serious money has now been committed to transform the Centre.
“The important thing now is that the local community continues to have a real say in how the regeneration plans develop. After all, they are the people who live here day in day out and they have got to be involved throughout the process. You don’t get too many opportunities like this.”
The project’s aims:
• Contributing to the transformation of the area into a more sustainable neighbourhood;
• Improving access to employment and training services;
• Encouraging private investment and new retail offering and creating WI-FI connectivity alongside safe and attractive spaces for outdoor leisure and cultural activity.
It’s anticipated that the regeneration project will:
• 1 FTE new jobs created
• 10 construction jobs supported
• 60 existing job supported
• 10+ training places created
• 0.27 ha of Vacant and derelict Land remediated, de-risked or brought back into use specifically in relation to temporary or permanent greening
• 1 buildings refurbished and brought back into use
• 3 community facility supported
• 20 businesses/ enterprises benefiting from supported facilities.
See attached for details of the successful projects
regeneration projects Feb 2016
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