Great start to charrette initiative

Andrew Cowie • Published 10 Mar 2010 16:00 2 Comments

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Our picture shows left to right: Minister for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop MSP; Councillor Frances Melville, Provost of Fife; Andres Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (DPZ).

LOCHGELLY took its first step towards a future of low carbon dwelling when the Charrette was officially launched on Monday night.

One of only three schemes in Scotland to be part of the charrette process, Lochgelly is the only one being promoted and led by its Local Authority.

The proposed new development includes 1,750 new houses, 25 hectares of employment land and provision for open space.

Lochgelly should ultimately provide a model for sustainable community living developed with extensive public consultation and with a focus on implementing innovative solutions, in particular, promoting energy efficiency including consideration of density, low carbon output, green space and active travel.

At the Opening Presentation held in the Town Hall, The Provost of Fife, Councillor Frances Melville, welcomed everyone to Lochgelly including the Minister for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop MSP, and Andres Duany, world renowned architect who is heading up the design team in Lochgelly.

Between Monday and Saturday, 13th March, a series of workshops will take place where the public, designers and consultants will work together to explore potential design options. The aim of the charrette process is to capture the vision, values and ideas of the community.

Councillor Frances Melville, Provost of Fife, was delighted to welcome the Charrette to Lochgelly, "This is an innovative project for Fife.

"It will be interesting to hear the views of the community at the end of this week and if they think this is the way forward for the future, when dealing with development for a large area which is going to impact on their community for the years ahead.

"I hope the people of Lochgelly will become involved and more importantly that the end result is what the residents of Lochgelly want for their area".

Minister for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop MSP, said, "The Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative is a pivotal part of this Government's work to raise ambition for the quality of new development in Scotland.

"Along with our partners, we want to see new development that respects, protects and enhances this country's unique natural and built heritage.

"That requires significant input from the local community and this charrette is allowing that consultation to happen.

"It is an innovative approach allowing everyone who cares about Lochgelly to participate directly and at an early stage."

Andres Duany, who drew up designs for rebuilding work in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, has just finished the first of the Scotland Charrette's in Dumfries, and is looking forward to working in Lochgelly, "If we put the right elements in place, every change that happens will make things better.

"You have to take care of this place and set it up so it gets better over time.

"We really need your guidance to take us where we need to be. To get anything substantial done we have to look into the future".

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billy bathgate
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Mar 16, 10:18
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yeay!!! more regeneration for lochgelly.....me thinks it's about time some pennys got spent on other near by communities.

what a lot of rubbish.

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C Stafford
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Apr 23, 16:14
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What about the Duany led Tornagrain Charrette held in 2006 which we understood to be the first in Scotland? Tornagrain is also on the SSCI list is it not?

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