Best Project
University of Glasgow Western Campus entered by University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is investing £1.3 billion to create a sustainable, world-class urban quarter that integrates into the social and cultural fabric of Glasgow, with support from a Masterplan focused on placemaking. The development, one of the UK's largest, aims to bring people together in a dynamic environment to stimulate research and foster greater integration between academic, local communities, and businesses. The first building delivered is the Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC), which acts as the creative and collaborative heart of research at the university. The £118m building helps bridge boundaries between research, cross-subject collaboration, and true societal impact.
Primrose Place, Alloa entered by Clackmannanshire Council
The development represents a partnership approach to housing-led town centre regeneration, based on place principles. Re-developing this vacant space in Alloa town centre has been done in a manner that supports the health and well-being of not only the residents of the new flats but the town itself. It has gone beyond "good enough" in respect of creating a healthy living environment in the flats and communal spaces, but applied the same principles and standards to fixing the surrounding public realm. This was achieved through meaningful community engagement and a range of professionals prepared to do things better.
GrowBanff@TheVinery entered by Aberdeenshire Council
GrowBanff@TheVinery is improving health and wellbeing, increasing skills, and reducing social isolation. This is being achieved through a peppercorn lease awarded through an open call to Aberdeen Foyer who opened the building in July 2022, utilising the refurbished glasshouse as a growing and wellbeing space and bothy as a kitchen and café/meeting space to provide opportunities for people with low skills and aspirations, or poor mental or physical health to attend training, learning, and volunteering sessions. Through this model Aberdeen Foyer are already exceeding project targets, quickly becoming a focus for community activity, and truly transforming lives.
Stockingfield Bridge entered by Glasgow City Council
The construction of the Stockingfield Bridge, a three-way pedestrian and cycle bridge at Stockingfield Junction, North Glasgow, is an integral part of a far wider investment programme to promote access and encourage healthy living in this area of the city. Community engagement has been at the heart of the project with residents and groups helping to shape the design of the structure and its surrounding environment through artwork. The bridge now defines North Glasgow’s skyline, is a feat of engineering and continues to turn heads around the globe.
Rediscovering the Antonine Wall project entered by West Dunbartonshire Council
Rediscovering the Antonine Wall is a multi-partner project that has used placemaking to increase awareness of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site. Led by planners from five local authorities, and partnered by Historic Environment Scotland, the project has created and enhanced places across central Scotland, through the installation of themed play parks, replica distance stones, murals and iconic statues. It has also facilitated community-led placemaking projects. This has been complemented by a full-length film, comic preparation with school children, a creative writing anthology, a travelling museum exhibition, and community outreach including involvement of children and ‘New Scots’ migrants and refugees.
Zetland Park Project entered by Falkirk Council
The Zetland Park Project is an exemplar of community driven, local authority enabled place making focussed park regeneration. It has delivered above and beyond its original proposals and achieved its main objective: to rejuvenate Portonian (collective noun for Grangemouth People) Pride. To achieve this at any time is a commendable success, to achieve this entirely throughout Covid and multiple national lockdowns, price increases and supply issues is remarkable. At a time of global change and re-evaluation, this project has reaffirmed that heritage projects can make a massive difference to people’s wellbeing and lives as well as their quality of place.