This seminar was part of the process related to a What Works Scotland report examining what works in place-based economic regeneration in Scotland. The event included a presentation by SURF and an opportunity for delegates to contribute to the debate.

Can we draw lessons about the nature of regeneration and what does and does not work, and can this better inform policy and practice thinking?

Scotland has a long history and engagement with place-based regeneration. This continues to the present through the work of specific places, initiatives and the ongoing work of bodies like SURF – Scotland’s Regeneration Forum.

The event, introduced by Professor Alan McGregor, contributed to a  forthcoming What Works Scotland report asking what works in place-based economic regeneration in Scotland, written by colleagues from Training and Employment Research Unit (TERU) at the University of Glasgow and What Works Scotland.

The report addresses these questions:

• What is the context that place-based economic regeneration has to work within in Scotland?
• What do we know works well and what less so and what are the lessons for policy moving forward?

The research draws on an evidence review, involving more than 20 key actor consultations and three case studies which analyse town centre regeneration, community-led regeneration and physical regeneration.

Delegates also heard about recent and current work by SURF  in a presentation by chief executive Andy Milne that emphasised the connections between local regeneration work and the macro economic environment.

In the discussions following the presentations they were asked to contribute to the debate, and provide their own sense of what works and what doesn’t in the current and likely future climate for regeneration in Scotland.

• Date: 13 June 2017
• Location: St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art,  Glasgow

Presentations

• What Works in Economic Regeneration (PDF) –  Ken Gibb
•  SURF presentation: Place, Practice and Policy Perspective (PDF) – Andy Milne, chief executive, SURF

Resources

Economic Regeneration in Scotland: Past Lessons, Current Practice, Future Challenges

This research report, which drew on the discussions at the  seminar, examines area-based approaches to economic regeneration in Scotland, including evidence from three case studies focused on town centre regeneration, community-led regeneration and physical regeneration. The report identifies commonalities across the case studies and presents main messages for future economic regeneration initiatives.

August 2017