Place Making Case Studies

Examples of communities working together to change their places

Naomi Sweeney

16 April 2024

Initiatives

Place Making Examples

Place Making can take many forms, but the essence is community empowerment - a process which allows citizens to take ownership of the places they live and work, and inform decisions that affects their place.

Here you will find some great examples of Place Making in action.

Additional case studies can also be found on the pages of our Place Making Framework which showcases previous projects completed by Place Making specialists who are part of the support structure for Place Making in the Scottish Borders.

Connect Berwickshire Youth Project

Eyemouth community-based organisation working with young people to take a place based approach to development in their town.

https://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk

Newcastleton Community Climate Action Plan

Newcastleton & District Community Trust has been selected as one of seven Scottish communities to participate in the Community Climate Action Programme delivered by environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful. The programme will support seven communities to produce tailored community climate action plans.

https://livenewcastleton.com

Midsteeple Quarter Dumfries

A Community Benefit Society of local people invested in regenerating the town centre and bringing prosperity to the community.

https://www.midsteeplequarter.org

Learn from Midsteeple Quarter

Creative Placemaking - The Stove Network

Tarras Valley Nature Reserve | Langholm | The Langholm Initiative

One of the most ambitious community projects of a generation Langholm has successfully undertaken one of the South of Scotland's largest community land buyout, following one of the most ambitious community fundraising campaigns ever seen. The community now legally owns 5,200 acres of land which includes upland moor, ancient woodland, meadows, peatlands and river valley which is being developed into the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve.

https://www.langholminitiative.org.uk

EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL OFFICIALLY HANDS OVER ICONIC LANDMARK TO LOCAL ARTS CHARITY

The Dunoon Project

An ambitious community project supported by Levelling Up Funding to attract visitors to the area

https://www.thedunoonproject.org.uk

Rural Fife | Place Making Support

Insights into how Place Making is progressing in Fife.

https://www.pas.org.uk

Sighthill - New Practice

Sighthill is a residential neighbourhood directly north of Glasgow City Centre - a 1960's scheme originally made up of ten twenty-storey tower blocks looming large against the skyline, and in the psyche of the city. Sighthill is currently undergoing regeneration that is extensive both in scope and in duration.

https://new-practice.co.uk

Raasay Community Renewables Hydro Electricity

A Community Benefit Society set up by the residents of the Isle of Raasay to build and operate two community owned run of river hydro-electric generation schemes

https://raasayrenewables.co.uk

Placemaking - Design Commission for Wales

Placemaking approach in Wales including information on the Placemaking Wales Charter

http://dcfw.org

The Leven Programme

An ambitious collection of projects centred around the River Leven as a partnership between communities, businesses and local agencies to help deliver environmental improvements.

https://www.theleven.org

Connections Mendip

A community led approach to tackling loneliness and reducing pressure on NHS services

https://healthconnectionsmendip.org

Heat Network for Bishop's Castle

Community owned energy network

https://bishopscastletowncouncil.gov.uk

Bishop's Castle Heat and Wind project

This town is not on the gas grid, so most of the heating comes from oil and LPG. Carbon emissions can be reduced in two ways; by saving energy and by generating renewable energy.

https://www.sharenergy.coop

Deveron Projects: The Town is the Venue

An initiative which reframes the town of Huntly as a venue to inhabit, explore, map and activate the place through artist driven projects.

https://www.deveron-projects.com

Meigle + Ardler | Smart Village Scotland

The web profile of a super connected community in rural Scotland.

https://www.meigleardler.smartvillage.scot

GALE | The GALE Centre Community Hub

An hub for community organisations, and a place to showcase and sell local products, The GALE Centre generates vital funds for GALE with all profits made in the shop and cafe being used to fund new community projects or subsidise existing work.

https://galeactionforum.co.uk

GALE | Inverasdale Slipway And Jetty

Community led development in Gairloch

https://galeactionforum.co.uk

Braemar Community Housing

15 affordable homes development as a Community-Led initiative.

http://braemarcommunitylimited.co.uk

Using the Place Standard Tool

Leith PEOPLE+PLACES project - ©Jenny Elliott

Using Community Map Scotland Tools

Community Map Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative which gives Community Councils and other community groups access to the Parish Online software to use maps in Community Led Planning.

Examples of the tools use can be found in the examples below.

Local Place Plan - Thornton Community Council

Thornton Community Council Local Place Plan page

https://thorntoncommunitycouncil.gov.uk

Borderlands Place Plans

Stranraer Local Place Plan

The online presence of the Stranraer Town Team and the work involved in creating their Local Place Plan

https://www.creatingstranraer.co.uk

Stranraer Town Team Film

Stranraer's Place Plan Process | Presentation to the Scottish Borders Council:

Kirkconnel + Kelloholm Place Plan

A Plan for the community of Kirkconnel and Kelloholm created under the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal Place Programme

https://dumfriesgalloway.moderngov.co.uk

LongtownPlacePlan

Over May, June and July 2022, all residents and businesses of Longtown area were invited to contribute to the co-production of a Longtown Place Plan in a series of five community workshops. These workshops asked residents on their opinions of Longtown and what they thought Longtown needed to improve.

https://www.carlisle.gov.uk

Cumbria County Councils Borderlands Place Programme

Borderlands Growth brings together the five cross-border local authorities of Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council to promote economic growth and competitiveness of the area that straddles the Scotland-England border.

https://www.cumbria.gov.uk

Dalton Place Plan (cumbria.gov.uk)

Egremont Place Plan (cumbria.gov.uk)

Penrith Place Plan (cumbria.gov.uk)

Ulverston Place Plan (cumbria.gov.uk)

Wigton Place Plan (cumbria.gov.uk)