Lochgelly - 'Excellence in Regeneration' - 15/02/2010

The town of Lochgelly in Fife, with its population of 6000, is currently being transformed through a programme of successful regeneration activity that has been highlighted as a national example of best practice. In the 2008 SURF Awards, a project to redevelop Lochgelly Town Square was Highly Commended in the Place category.

Now Ore Valley Housing Association, its subsidiary Fife Housing Association Regeneration Community Alliance (HARCA), and Dearle and Henderson Consultancy are celebrating the beginning of their 10th year working together on Lochgelly’s regeneration by winning the Excellence in Regeneration Award. This award is bestowed by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the Scottish Government’s Scottish Centre for Regeneration (SCR).

The former mining town was once described in The Observer as “the last place in Britain people want to live”. Following the disappearance of a thriving mining industry, the town entered a long-term period of steady decline and economic stagnation.

The dramatic turnaround began in 2000, when Lochgelly was designated as a regeneration area by Fife Council. Preferred delivery partners Ore Valley Housing Association and Fife HARCA have led the regeneration strategy, working closely with the council, the local community and consultants Dearle and Henderson - with successful results.

Alan Ferguson, Director of CIH Scotland said Lochgelly: “...demonstrated a series of well connected projects dealing with housing, employment, business and community concerns. There is evidence of mature partnership working with strong community input and leadership across all activities. Lochgelly is a well deserved winner and has been successful in improving quality and choice of housing through to community facilities to the public realm.”

Projects which have been completed in the ten year partnership between Ore Valley HA, Fife HARCA and Dearle and Henderson include three phases of new housing, replacing problem housing stock in various sites throughout Lochgelly. 

The multi-award winning Lochgelly Miners Institute now takes pride of place on Main Street serving as both a revitalised community building and premises for Fife Women’s Technology Centre and Adam Smith College, both of whom bring invaluable experience in adult re-training and further education to the residents of Lochgelly and its surrounding areas. 

The Main Street has further been improved with the development of 12 new-build flats above retail units – the interest in which has been very positive, enhancing the shopping choices in the town.

The year 2010 will see the completion of the iconic Lochgelly Business Centre, on an adjacent site on Main Street. This building, utilising new sustainable technology and fast-track construction techniques, will be owned and managed by Fife HARCA, offering low-cost premises for start-up local businesses, thereby giving the local economy a real chance to flourish. 

Sketch of Lochgelly's Environmental Strategy

It is understood however, by all involved, that true regeneration requires more than just buildings – it must involve the local community in as much of the decision-making as possible. This factor is the main reason that a comprehensive environmental improvement audit has been undertaken by Ore Valley with Dearle & Henderson, in close association with local residents groups, to establish a programme to revamp open spaces and green areas in the town.

The next phase of housing work involving the construction of terraced houses and flats, some of which will be specially adapted for use in association with The Scottish Society for Autism, is scheduled to start on a site at South Street in April 2010.

The regeneration work in Lochgelly will not stop there; exciting times lie ahead, with Lochgelly having recently been designated as one out of seven Scottish Sustainable Communities. As part of this ongoing process, the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative - Lochgelly Charrette is scheduled to take place in March 2010, to promote and to facilitate involvement by all parties in the next stage of Lochgelly’s growth and development.

Alan Campbell of Dearle and Henderson, a SURF member organisation, said: “Continuing partnership working, which has seen such measurable improvements in the town, will surely see Lochgelly once more restored to the thriving Fife town which it once was.”

The award will be presented at the CIH Conference in Glasgow’s SECC on 16th March 2010 by Alex Neil MSP, Minister for Housing and Communities. For further information on this event, please click on the link below.

Website: www.cihscotland-conference.org