Community projects from Argyll and Bute to Shetland will share around £312,000 to regenerate their neighbourhoods, Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart announced today. As part of the Making Places Initiative, 19 projects will receive funding to bring people together to agree priorities for their area and shape future planning and design. Projects from Leith, Portobello and Wester Hailes are among the successful bidders.

The funding will support events that bring local people together with design professionals to identify how their places and communities can be improved. The 19 projects awarded funding include workshops to develop physical and environmental improvements to the Woodside area of North Glasgow, creating a development plan for Scalloway in Shetland and a plan to improve a shopping centre in Wester Hailes in Edinburgh.

Three Edinburgh initiatives have received the green light:

Leith £35,000 Proposed by Citizen Curator & Leith Creative

To develop and pilot a People’s Place Plan for Leith, following the successful Leith Blueprint which created a community report.

Portobello: Westbank Street Placemaking Project, £12,000 Proposed by Action Porty

To produce a community led, mixed use development masterplan for council owned land at Westbank Street, Portobello.

Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes £20,000 Proposed by Wester Hailes Community Trust

Charrette to develop a masterplan for Westside Plaza with the aim of creating a civic square at the heart of Wester Hailes town centre.

Minister for Local Government, Kevin Stewart said: “I am pleased we received so many applications from a mixture of local authorities and community groups, keen to get local people involved in plans to improve their area.

“This scheme and every project supported by it creates more opportunities for communities to choose what works for them.

“Each project has its own design challenge, whether it is a plan to regenerate an area of a city centre or looking at a smaller site in a rural community. All of these projects should lead to improvements that will create benefit for hundreds of people.”

Making Places expands on the Charette programme, offering end to end support for community capacity building, design events and project delivery. The successful projects sharing a total of £311,890 are:

Ayr North £25,000 Proposed by South Ayrshire Council

Design workshops to develop a community action plan and vision, including development of play space and community garden on site of Whitletts Primary schools.

New Cumnock £4,005 Proposed by New Cumnock Development Trust

Community design events to develop a regeneration masterplan within the New Cumnock Community Action Plan.

Carlibar Park, Barrhead £6,000 Proposed by East Renfrewshire Council

Design workshop to create a masterplan for the town centre greenspace.

Mayfield £13,400 Proposed by McSence Ltd for In It Together Partnership

Series of workshops to involve the community in developing a masterplan for Mayfield & Easthouses.

Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes £20,000 Proposed by Wester Hailes Community Trust

Charrette to develop a masterplan for Westside Plaza with the aim of creating a civic square at the heart of Wester Hailes town centre.

Woodside Improvements £30,000 Proposed by Queens Cross Housing Association

Workshops to develop an action plan for physical and environmental improvements to the Woodside area of North Glasgow.

Scalloway £15,000 Proposed by Shetland Islands Council

Design workshops to consider the future development of Scalloway and develop a Local Place Plan.

Foxbar £15,000 Proposed by Renfrewshire Council

Workshops to support the local community to develop a Local Place Plan.

Dunfermline £24,810 Proposed by Carnegie Dunfermline Trust

Community led event to develop a masterplan for a key area in Dunfermline town centre.

Maryhill & Ruchill £5,000 Proposed by Maryhill Housing Association

Walking events and place workshops to identify community priorities and improvement projects.

Leith £35,000 Proposed by Citizen Curator & Leith Creative

Develop and pilot a People’s Place Plan for Leith, following the successful Leith Blueprint which created a community report.

Helensburgh £15,000 Proposed by Argyll & Bute Council

Community consultation to create a vision and masterplan to inform the future planning process.

Inverkeithing £15,000 Proposed by Fife Council

Community activities to deliver a Master Plan for Inverkeithing, focusing on community assets, strengths, interests and values.

Kirriemuir £10,000 Proposed by Kirriemuir Community Council

Develop an architectural plan for the Gairie Works site, a key priority identified in the Kirriemuir Charrette funded by Angus Council.

Clydebank £20,000 Proposed by West Dunbartonshire Council

Design-led project concentrating on Forth & Clyde canal and connection to Clydebank town centre.

Falkland £25,175 Proposed by Falkland & Newton of Falkland Community Council

Charrette to develop a vision and design statement for Falkland and its immediate environs which will combine spatial, social and economic strategies and solutions.

Glasgow, Phoenix Nursery, Test Unit £9,500 Proposed by Agile City Community Interest Company

Project to progress ideas generated by Charrettes into physical prototypes that test assumptions and engage with local audiences.

Pollokshields: Mark Makers, £12,000 Proposed by The Pollokshields Trust

Develop plans for the creation of the ‘East Pollokshields Urban Common’ on the site of a derelict bowling green.

Portobello: Westbank Street Placemaking Project, £12,000 Proposed by Action Porty

To produce a community led, mixed use development masterplan for council owned land at Westbank Street, Portobello.

Further details of the Making Places Initiative and how to apply for support is available online