PLAN TO PUT TOWN CENTRES FIRST
Public bodies across Scotland are being urged to put town centres first when considering new investment decisions.
Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay said the new "town centre first" principle could help create and maintain vibrant high streets that are a focal point for the local community.
An expert group set up to examine how to breathe life into Scotland's town centres, which was chaired by architect Malcolm Fraser, called for the approach to be adopted last summer.
Mr Fraser, who chaired the Town Centre Review Group, said the latest move is "exactly the result we hoped for".
Under the new principle, public bodies - such as councils, the police and the NHS - will be encouraged to invest in such areas, and weigh up the financial pressures of closing down any town centre facilities against the benefits of maintaining vibrant, healthy high streets.
Mr Mackay said: "Our town centres should be vibrant, attractive and safe places where local people want to spend their time and money.
"The Scottish Government made a commitment to recognise and prioritise the importance of town centres in our town centre action plan last year, and we are taking this one step further by introducing the town centre first principle, and asking all public bodies to sign up.
"The principle will encourage public bodies to put the health of town centres first and consider what impact any investment decisions will have on them. In particular, when it comes to investment, public bodies adopting the principle are requested to consider town centre locations first, and look beyond immediate pressures when they are making decisions about closing a town centre facility.
"We understand that for some businesses or services the town centre may not be a suitable location, but in signing up to the principle, public bodies will make sure the rationale for locating elsewhere is evidenced and transparent."
The minister was speaking on a visit to Barrhead in East Renfrewshire, which is one of the first local authorities in Scotland to adopt the principle.
"It is encouraging to see our local authorities, like East Renfrewshire Council, applying the principle and recognising how important it is to regenerate our town centres," Mr Mackay said.
"East Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire councils are also supporting this ethos by relocating their council offices into town centres.
"By working in partnership with local authorities, the wider public sector, private and community organisations, we can ensure our town centres are vibrant and are a focal point for the community."
Mr Fraser said the review group had sought to avoid short-term fixes and had instead hoped to "change attitudes and policy upstream at the heart of government".
He added: "To have the Government and Cosla working together to establish the town centre first principle across all levels of decision making is exactly the result we hoped for.
"I am delighted and, on behalf of the Review Group, hugely welcome this announcement."
Councillor Stephen Hagan, the spokesman for development, economy and sustainability at the local government body Cosla, stressed that regenerating town centres is a "priority" for councils.
He said: "Given the importance of town centres to local communities across Scotland, we hope that the town centre first principle is the first step in helping to ensure the viability of Scotland's town centres going forward."
East Renfrewshire Council's convener for infrastructure and sustainable growth Councillor Tony Buchanan said: "Barrhead is the perfect example of town centre regeneration in action.
"There has been £80 million of East Renfrewshire Council-led regeneration in Barrhead town centre in recent years. The council built its second major headquarters on the Main Street, bringing jobs to the town. The first community health and care partnership HQ in Scotland is alongside it in the heart of the community, and there has been investment in improving the look of the main shopping areas, attracting both the public and business.
"Our new Barrhead Foundry will open early next year - an important community hub combining leisure, learning and business and employability services that we are investing £3.8 million in.
"And we have been working with Asda to bring their new store to Main Street, which is due to open in August and will be an important local employer as well as bring people into the town centre."
