A successful and timely SURF seminar of October 2003 showcased ‘New Delivery Vehicles’ for regeneration, including plans for introducing Urban Regeneration Companies into Scotland. Three years later, SURF decided to look again at progress with URCs and other models.

This short-day event was a full and informative session of presentations from key figures with experience and expertise in different regeneration models. Seventy participants were also given the opportunity to comment and ask questions to the panel of speakers.

A report of the main points made by speakers and at the plenary session will be circulated to participants. These main messages will be the basis of further policy-focused discussions with the Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland colleagues, among others.

Meanwhile, speaker presentations are available for download below:

1) Practical, Legal and Accountable

An outline of the different structures and their suitability

Key speaker – Stephen Phillips of Burness Solicitors

The Burness legal firm is closely involved in 5 out of the 6 URC structures in Scotland. Stephen outlined the particular potential and advantages of the URC legal and structural arrangements and the pros and cons of a wider range of legal models.

Click here to download the slides accompanying Stephen’s presentation.

2) Urban regeneration Companies – URCs

The developing role of URCs in the Scottish regeneration landscape

Key speaker – Alison Byrne, Policy Manager, Scottish Executive

Three more of these special models for greater private sector involvement were announced in the Scottish Executive’s recent ‘People and Place – Regeneration Policy Statement’. Alison Byrne, a policy manager at the Scottish Executive presented current thinking on:

  • The role and purpose of URCs and partner organisations in delivering large scale regeneration projects
  • Update on current URCs in Scotland and delivery approaches taken
  • The Scottish Executive’s evaluation of the URC Programme
  • Next steps

Click here to download the slides accompanying Alison’s presentation.

3) Development Trusts

Empowering local people to play a lead role in revitalising their own communities

Key Speaker – Angus Hardie of the Development Trust Association, Scotland (DTAS)

The development trust movement has grown rapidly in recent years. Community ownership of assets is at the heart of this approach to regeneration. Angus Hardie, Director of DTAS, gave outline to some of the key issues and challenges that exist for development trusts and the wider community regeneration sector.

Click here to download notes relating to Angus’ presentation.

4) Registered Social Landlords and wider action

Housing Associations as drivers of wider physical and social regeneration

Key Speaker – Helen Forsyth, Regeneration Director (Scotland), Places for People

Places for People manage over 56,000 homes throughout the UK and work with a wide range of other partners to provide specialist care and support services, employment and training opportunities and other community services. RSLs were not a model looked at in the previous seminar, but in this seminar Helen outlined why housing associations are increasingly seen as being well placed to support and drive wider aspects of community based regeneration.

Click here to download the slides accompanying Helen’s presentation.

5) Non Profit Distributing Organisations- NPDO

A socially conscious alternative to PFI and PPP?

Key Speaker – Mike Geraghty, recently Head of Service – Capital Funding Project, at Argyll and Bute Council.

A new type of PPP model developed as an alternative to PFI. Mike explained the Non Profit Distributing Organisation (NPDO) approach taken by the Argyll and Bute Council to the regeneration of part of its school estate. This large-scale capital project, with a budget of almost £90 million including life-cycle and maintenance costs, was delivered in co-operation with the private sector.

Click here to download the slides accompanying Mike’s presentation.