Approaches to waterfront regeneration within a common regulatory framework in Scotland: the diverse experiences of Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh

This work describes waterfront regeneration strategies in three Scottish cities presenting an initial analysis of the different models these cities represent with the aim of contributing to understanding future opportunities for sustainable waterfront development in Scotland.

Transcript

1. 
 Power and agency in current waterfront regeneration in Scotland: the diverse experiences of Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh 
 
 World Canals Conference 
 September 2016 Dr Harry Smith, Heriot-Watt University Dr Soledad Garcia Ferrari, University of Edinburgh
2. Knowledge Exchange programme bringing together practitioners, policy makers and academics involved with regeneration processes in Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh with the aim to guide a debate and encourage sharing experiences
3. Environmental concerns in waterfront development, The Lighthouse, Glasgow, 27 October 2014 Urban life, public space and the role of urban design in waterfront development, Discovery Point, Dundee, 1 December 2014 Socio-economic impact and equity in waterfront regeneration, A+DS, Edinburgh, 9 January 2015 Aim: to explore the potential of waterfront regeneration to contribute to socially, economically and environmentally sustainable development of Scotland, creating new places and transforming existing places in order to improve quality of life.
4. 
 Findings from three sets of information • presentations and visits to the three Scottish waterfront city case studies; • presentations on, and discussions of, international experiences and theme-based presentations; and • discussions in break-out groups on key themes structured according to a common theoretical framework.
5. Key findings from the experience of the three case study Scottish waterfronts • Market-driven regeneration of relatively unoccupied land by one private sector landowner (Glasgow Harbour, Western Harbour in Leith). • Public sector-driven regeneration under direct local authority control (Dundee Central Waterfront). • Public sector-driven regeneration via arms-length company (Waterfront Edinburgh Limited in Granton, Edinburgh). • Public and community sector-driven regeneration of built-up and densely populated waterfront neighbourhood (Govan in Glasgow). • Regeneration focused on new and reinvigorated uses of water (Scottish Canals projects, e.g. in Port Dundas).
6. Scottish waterfront redevelopment models vs. Galland & Hansen’s (2012) planning styles Public- investment planning Regulative planning Trend planning Leverage planning Market-driven in Glasgow Harbour & Western Harbour Leith Public-sector driven in Dundee Central Waterfront Public-sector driven in Granton, Edinburgh (WEL) Public and community sector- driven in Govan, Glasgow Scottish Canals regeneration projects
7. • Challenges: different processes, connections • Results: different waterfront regeneration types/processes produce different results
8. • Water management an increasingly pressing issue • Water management as a source of civic pride • Urban regeneration needs to focus on life, then space and then buildings • A lively waterfront which enables other things to happen, working with what exists • Local community groups can create waterfronts for the people made by the people, based on what people need • Land ownership a key to success in urban regeneration • It is important to understand and work with the politics of place. • Strong community views of what the waterfront is. Examples elsewhere in the UK
9. Western Harbour, Malmo Hafencity, Hamburg
10. Framework used for discussions: Example from Workshop 1 Environmental concerns around waterfront regeneration Reflection on lessons from site visits & presentations to identify factors contributing to environmentally sustainable waterfront regeneration in Scotland Resources What resources are needed to develop an environmentally sustainable waterfront regeneration and development? What resources do waterfronts already have that may contribute to this? Rules and organisations What organisational arrangements and inputs can foster environmentally sustainable waterfront regeneration and development? What rules/regulations may contribute to an environmentally sustainable waterfront? Ideas and mindsets What makes a waterfront environmentally sustainable? What attitudes are in place to contribute to an environmentally sustainable waterfront?
11. Key issues identified by break-out group discussions among key stakeholders Ten issues that were most discussed are, in order of weight in the discussions: land; water as a resource; place and public space; masterplanning; vision; participation, consultation and community involvement; dealing with change; connectivity and infrastructure; leadership; and management structures.
12. Land / Water / Place / Connectivity • Land: edge, value for money, control • Water: attractor, visibility & accessibility, catalyst • Place & public space: place, attractor, integrated place-based approach • Connectivity: good regionally and nationally, poor to city, barriers
13. Management structures / Leadership / Dealing with change • Structures: overall management, internal management of open space • Leadership: championing a vision, range of qualities; political & entrepreneurial • Change: mindsets, complex process
14. Vision / Masterplanning / Participation • Vision: innovative, political support, communication • Masterplanning: range of types, resource linked to design coding, balance with delivery • Participation: socially sustainable development, (non-)existence of resident population, time
15. Other key issues: • Access to specific funding (EU, central government, etc); • Opportunities for innovation in the regeneration: lifestyles, sustainability, governance; • Mix of uses, including affordable housing; • Opportunities for promoting cultural heritage and history; • Need for research, e.g. into how the area is, how it can be used, development patterns, heritage, economic aspects, etc.; • Central location of many waterfront areas to be regenerated; • The importance of building capacity in the long term; • Complexity in relation to: government structures, management and governance, community, funding opportunities, etc. • Importance of good communication, both among stakeholders who are directly involved and towards the wider public; • Importance of formal and informal networks surrounding the development; • Role of a successful business plan, which requires the planning process to have a better understanding of the market; • The possibility of promoting productivity in the waterfront areas that are regenerated; and • Economic sustainability, based on creation of employment opportunities and variety of activities.
16. Overview and way forward • Distinctive features of waterfront regeneration & development • Scope to learn from international experience • Scope to reflect and learn from experience within Scotland, and for policy and practice to evolve • 4th workshop (at Falkirk Wheel) as a beginning of a more continuous sharing of experience • 5th workshop in Glasgow focused on identifying ‘priorities and responsibilities’
17. Next steps • In-depth comparison of Scottish waterfronts (academic-led) • Extended international learning (knowledge exchange) • Dissemination and lobbying • Paper published by PORTUS-Plus – waterfront network – ‘Approaches to waterfront regeneration in Scotland’ • Ongoing research on Edinburgh waterfront