Inverness city centre inspires delegates as part of Town Centre Living roadshow
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Council representatives, community organisations architects, town planners and housing associations attended an Inverness event to inspire strategic place-making approach in the city.
The Town Centre Living and Investment Roadshow, held at WASPs studios, was organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership, Scottish Futures Trust, Architecture and Design Scotland and the Scottish Land Commission.
Delegates from across the country heard about experiences and ideas from the Inverness local scene, including a walking tour of the city which highlighted wider regeneration work and hopes.
Key themes and best practices shared during discussions from the five events held as part of it will be shared with the joint CoSLA and Ministerial National Towns Forum in April.
According to event organisers, the experiences in Inverness will help shape national work to have more people living in Scotland’s town and city centres.
Kimberley Guthrie, chief officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, said: “Getting out and about has been an important reminder as to how town centre living can be a major catalyst for positive change.”
Mhairi Donaghy, associate director at Scottish Futures Trust, said: “Town centre living is a huge part of the future for our town and city centres, creating the power to catalyse other developments in communities.”
Each session focussed on a different topic with talks in Inverness focussing on adopting a holistic and strategic place-making approach.
Heather Claridge, director of Design at Architecture and Design Scotland, said: “We need to have more people living in our town centres to create vibrant environments, but also to live in a more compact and sustainable way.”
A total of 220 people have taken part in the events, which also took place in Perth, Paisley and Falkirk, with a further session being held online.
David Stewart, the Scottish Land Commission’s Policy and Practice Lead, added: “A great variety of people have come together to share ideas, experiences and so much positivity about the potential of town centre living.”
