Since mid-2021, David has been working closely with the Scottish Futures Trust and HubNorth Scotland to undertake several Place-based reviews: of Caithness, Shetland, Lochgilphead and Inverurie. In all of these projects, his work has involved extensive analysis and stakeholder engagement to ensure that the projects portfolio (of public, private and community partners) is aligned with local need/priorities set out in specific Place Narratives.
His work has also included designing processes to identify pathway opportunities from within those portfolios – initiatives around which partners could collaborate, plan and deliver significant transformation for those areas. The key driver for all of these projects is that “investment is in the right initiatives, in the right spaces, delivering the right outcomes, supported by the right people”. In Caithness, Shetland and Inverurie this has specifically involved leveraging significant investment in school estates for wider community benefit.
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“MainStreet have played a key role supporting several Place-based reviews undertaken by Hub North Scotland. We trust them to deliver – which they do with skill, diligence and enthusiasm.”
Fraser Innes
Operations Director
Hub North Scotland
David led a project for the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) to develop the Place Guide; a ‘how-to manual’ for improved Place-based decision making. The aim of that document and its supporting tools was to provide clarity on why and how Place-based approaches should be incorporated into the planning and development of investment in services or capital projects.
The Guide acts as a bridge between several UK and Scottish Government policy agendas like NPF4, the Infrastructure Investment Plan, HOUSING TO 2040, Land Use Strategy etc and the protocols that professionals who design, build and operate schemes e.g. RIBA’s plan of work or RTPI on design/masterplanning.
Its key message is that: partners working locally on infrastructure and service changes should pause, take stock of their collective activity or investments, collectively consider priority outcomes, and align existing and future plans and resources for maximum community benefit.
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“My experience of working with MainStreet has been of mutual understanding, respect and challenge in mapping what’s possible. Their approach is intelligent, meaningfully curious and outcome focused – they are ‘trusted doers’”.
Diarmaid Lawlor
Place, Housing & Economic Investment
Scottish Futures Trust
The Communities Housing Trust (CHT) has been operating in an increasingly challenging housing system with rising costs and public funding constraints. MainStreet was commissioned to carry out a strategic review to help the Board understand CHT’s potential and the strategic decisions required to deliver its vision.
During the review, MainStreet spoke to 14 staff and 27 external stakeholders including the Scottish Government, five RSLs, three local authorities, several NDPBs and various rural housing related organisations and community development trusts.
Our engagement and analysis identified that stakeholders value CHT’s core activities; there are some weaknesses including the current financial model, some relationships with key stakeholders; and some internal operational issues. Staff are supportive of CHT’s aims and objectives but have been worn down through trying to meet the level of interest in community led housing (CLH) and compensating for housing system failures
The report also set out various options, with the preferred ‘Renewal’ option, focussing CHT on reviewing its business plan objectives whilst also trying to secure additional funding, considering emerging opportunities, and engaging with stakeholders to identify further partnership working opportunities.