Government cash to aid community planning participation

Funding to help local residents to make their communities better places to live has been announced by Planning Minister Derek Mackay. £100,000 is being made available for planning authorities to run community participation projects which will create visions for the future of their communities.

The cash will support design projects, known as charrettes, where local residents and businesses work with expert teams to create ideas for the future of their local area. The charrettes are part of a process to simplify and modernise the planning system and will inform future planning projects through Local Development Plans.

Previous funding generated town masterplans for Wick and Thurso, a strategic plan for the long-term future of communities in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and a strategy for planning housing development in the South Wishaw area.

Funding is available for up to half  the cost of projects taking place before the end of March next year. 

Mr Mackay (pictured) said: “Local communities are the bedrock of our society. It is only right that in designing our towns and neighbourhoods we involve those who know them best – the people who live there.

“£100,000 funding is being made available to help create proposals for the future of towns and villages, with the promise of more to come.

“This support ensures that everyone can be involved in having their say on the long- term future of their community.

“The previous Scottish Government funded projects have helped energise communities and create a momentum for change from Caithness to Dumfries, Tyndrum to Lochgelly and Johnstone to Aberdeen.”