SURF was commissioned by Highlands & Islands Enterprise to carry out a feasibility study for establishing an ‘Alliance for Action’ in Rothesay based on similar existing SURF initiatives in 
Glasgow and Fife. SURF’s Alliance for Action is a collaborative activity and shared learning programme that SURF has been coordinating in the two case study areas of Govan, Glasgow, and east Kirkcaldy, Fife since April 2013. The feasibility study was completed at the end of 2014. In early 2015, SURF convened a gathering of local stakeholders who agreed to act as the Alliance reference and development group.
A significant outcome of the Alliance to date has been the successful application to the Scottish Government for funding for the Rothesay Charrette. The bulk of the funding came from the Scottish Government with a significant input from a local trust. The inclusive and intensive Charrette planning process will be a community managed project, with support from a number of relevant agencies including Argyll and Bute Council.
The Herald Scotland (13th Feb 2016) featured an article by Kevin McKenna on the Alliance for Action programme and the Charrette process, delivered by IceCream Architecture, highlighting the high level of community participation and ownership of the process. IceCream Architecture will be holding an extensive community consultation exercise with a series of events from the 24th-27th February 2016.
For more information on the Rothesay Alliance for Action and the charrette bid and consultation process please see our Rothesay Alliance for Action page
