The Place Fund is a Scottish Government capital fund for local authorities to allocate, working collaboratively with local communities, to develop projects under a variety of themes. These include: 20-minute neighbourhoods; town centre regeneration; community-led regeneration and community wealth building; achieving net-zero; and well-being and inclusive economic development.

Glasgow City Council has been allocated £3.699m for 2021/22 and the Scottish Government has provisionally allocated £3.2m for projects in the city in subsequent years.

At a committee on 2 December 2021, the council accepted this allocation and officers subsequently issued a funding call-out for applications through a wide variety of channels. By the submission deadline, 56 applications were received, with the total funding request being almost four times the available allocation. A number of projects were not assessed in detail as they did not meet the criteria of the Fund, or other eligibility criteria, and the remaining 37 projects were scored by officers against a set of weighted criteria.

The nine Glasgow projects to receive this funding for the current financial year are as follows:

• The Braes, Castlemilk - Environmental improvements to this shopping centre, including enhanced public realm and better permeability, will stimulate the local economy and help small retail businesses, and encourage further commercial development.
• Carbon Free Govanhill - Expansion of Carbon Free Govanhill project, including creation of an allotment and recycling hub.
• Hamiltonhill Green Infrastructure Project - Development of active travel links between green infrastructure (pocket parks), benefiting new and existing housing in the Hamiltonhill Masterplan.
• Laurieston Community Rooms - Replacement of temporary accommodation and the creation of community kitchen and garden space, and the improvement of street frontage.
• Parkhead Pantry Garden - Community growing space which will produce food for the nearby Parkhead Pantry.
• Queensland Community Park - Development of underused open space adjacent to two Multi Storey Flats in Cardonald.
• Ruchazie Café - Refurbishment of two shop units next to the existing pantry, to create a social kitchen and community café.
• Treehills Community Supermarket - Development of a community supermarket in Nitshill.
• Tollcross Winter Gardens - Redevelopment of B-Listed glasshouse, which will promote social interaction, social enterprise, benefit park users and complement the new nursery currently under construction

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “After a difficult couple of years, this is really welcome series of investments which can help unlock the potential across many of Glasgow’s neighbourhoods. From community kitchens and new growing spaces to new active travel links, these nine projects will benefit communities in every corner of the city, helping our residents to better appreciate their local areas.

“As a south side councillor, I’m particularly pleased to see the commitment to the Braes Shopping Centre in Castlemilk. This is a game-changer, a final piece of the investment jigsaw that will allow for the development of a household name supermarket and make a huge positive difference to the area. The Castlemilk community has pushed for this for decades - it knew what it needed and why and the City Government has been supportive of local efforts to deliver that. A big well done to all those who have campaigned for this.”

Margaret McIntyre, chairperson of Southside Housing Association, said: “We are delighted to welcome a funding award from The Place Fund for investment at Queensland Court and Gardens in Cardonald. The project is a partnership between the Association and Glasgow City Council, which looks to improve the landscape surrounding the two tower blocks.

“When the works are completed residents will benefit from a fun and active zone including a play park, pump track for bikes and scooters, and natural play equipment for climbing, swinging and sliding, and other features through the site. There will also be green roofed cycle storage, improved parking, lighting and navigation through the site, and City Deal investment in surface water management.”

Rona Anderson, director of property, enterprise & regeneration at Queens Cross Housing Association, added: “The Association is delighted to be successful in this grant application to The Place Fund. The Association will use this funding to support the creation of active travel infrastructure within the new green neighbourhood at Hamiltonhill. This includes a network of well-lit, off-road paths that will help bind the community together whilst increasing opportunities to exercise, rest and socialise in nature.”