Professors and students from the University of Delaware in the USA have visited Ayr to see the ongoing regeneration of the Lochside neighbourhood.
They are on a study tour of the UK as part of a Master’s course in public policy and administration. The Scottish leg of their trip has been hosted by Professor Robert Pyper of the Department of Social Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University.
Leland Ware, Louis L. Redding Professor of Law and Public Policy and Jonathan Justice, Associate Professor of Public Policy were particularly impressed with the approach being taken by South Ayrshire Council and Ayrshire Housing towards both the housing renewal and neighbourhood management.
The students are an international bunch with several from the People’s Republic of China, Saudi Arabia and Chinese Taipei.
They were welcomed by Ayrshire Housing’s Jim Whiston and David Burns, Manager (Housing Policy & Strategy) with South Ayrshire Council. Architect Gordon Fleming from Ayr based ARPL was able to explain his design approach which has supported resident interaction and control over their new environment.
As part of their Ayrshire tour, the students also visited the Ayr Renaissance town centre initiative and the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company. They will also travel to Glasgow and Birmingham to compare these cities’ approaches to regeneration.
The Lochside Initiative recently received a High Commendation in this year’s Building Successful Communities Awards. These are sponsored by the Scottish Government and Chartered Institute of Housing.