Community and Business Improvement Partnership for Stornoway

At yesterday’s meeting of the Comhairle’s Sustainable Development Committee, Members endorsed the development of a Community and Business Improvement Partnership for Stornoway.

During 2017, the Comhairle drew together the various studies which had been carried out into the regeneration of Stornoway. Concurrent work by Stornoway Port Authority on their Port Plan and Stornoway Trust on their ‘Parks for People’ (Lews Castle Grounds) project presented the opportunity to tie together all these Town Centre work streams into one cohesive Masterplan. The potential for an integrated vision for the entire centre of Stornoway was recognised and 360 Architecture were commissioned by the Comhairle and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to undertake this work.

A Stornoway Vision Working Group has been established and has now met three times, most recently in May. The Comhairle is leading on developing and supporting the Working Group. Participation is drawn from the following: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Development Department – Strategy Unit and Planning), Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Stornoway Business Group, The Stornoway Trust, Lews Castle College UHI, Stornoway Port Authority and Hebridean Housing Partnership.

Cllr. Donald Crichton, Chairman of the Committee, said: “The creation of the Stornoway Vision has demonstrated that there remains an appetite among a number of Stornoway Businesses to look again at the Business Improvement District model which has had positive impact in other Scottish towns. The employment of a Project Manager will give the opportunity for further consultation and development of these proposals, allowing partners and businesses to assess whether they wish to commit to such an initiative for a longer period.

“We want to have a strategic and joined-up approach to developing the infrastructure and promotion of the town of Stornoway in order to create a vibrant, accessible, and connected place where people want to Visit, Live, Work, Study, Play and Invest.”