- Fresh investment could be unlocked in communities across the city by embracing new way of working.
- Supporters urge interested groups to come forward.
Communities in Edinburgh are being urged to embrace a new way in which people can unite to unlock investment and build a better future.
Regeneration experts and the Scottish Government are keen to see the expansion of Community Improvement Districts to deliver on residents’ ambitions for the region.
The model builds on the well-established Business Improvement District model, credited with levering millions of pounds worth of investment in towns and cities nationally.
But, rather than just involving businesses, the Community Improvement District brings in any interested organisation or group to decide on the area’s priorities and take action.
That’s made financially possible by monies raised through a levy paid by business owners in the area, which is levered to attract greater investment.
It’s a way of making communities better places in which to live, work and visit which supporters believe could not only help the continued recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, but also the local response to the climate emergency and cost of living crisis.
The Community Improvement District drive is being spearheaded by Scotland’s Improvement Districts (SIDs), an arm of Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP).
It is supported by Tom Arthur MSP, Scotland’s Community Wealth Minister. He said: “I support this drive to create more Business and Community Improvement Districts to build on significant successes so far.
“With greater community involvement they can attract more investment through greater collaboration with local people, supporting business growth and protecting jobs.
“This will help us deliver the entrepreneurship ambitions set out in the Town Centre Action Plan and the National Strategy for Economic Transformation by creating enterprising communities. We all have a role to play in ensuring our towns enable more people to benefit directly from the wealth generated by local communities.”
To create a Community Improvement District, a group would need to take ownership of the drive locally and secure majority support to collect a legally-binding levy payment through a ballot of businesses who would be levy-payers.
Help and advice is available from SIDs’ expert team on the legal and practical steps which should be followed at every stage of the process.
Phil Prentice, SIDs’ national programme director, said: “The Community Improvement District model holds huge potential in achieving positive change for places across Edinburgh.
“It’s a way of embracing the uniqueness of communities and encouraging true collaboration to help achieve residents’ ambitions. It gives them the means by which to decide how they invest in the area’s future.
“This really is an exciting development which our team is keen to discuss with any potentially interested community group.”
The Community Improvement District model has been piloted in Possilpark, Glasgow, where businesses and local groups have joined forces with social landlord ng homes and others to create Remaking Saracen.
It has set out ambitions to regenerate the area by securing investment to improve the district’s look, boost business and tackle anti-social behaviour.
Work so far has included not only a series of community events and shop local initiatives, but shopfront improvement and street cleaning. It is hoped this will be the foundation of achieving greater ambitions for the area’s future.
To find out more about how to set up an improvement district, go to:
www.improvementdistricts.scot or email info@improvementdistricts.scot
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