Seven local authorities have been chosen to roll out the Legacy 2014 programme Stalled Spaces Scotland led by Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS).

The programme is aimed at supporting local authorities and communities to bring underused green spaces, stalled developments sites, vacant and derelict land back in to temporary use for the benefit of local communities.

The local authorities receiving funding as part of the programme are Angus, Argyll and Bute, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Fife, North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire councils. A condition of funding is that local authorities match the funding received through the programme.

The successful local authorities were announced yesterday at a seminar organised by A+DS at The Lighthouse in Glasgow. The aim of the seminar was to support a broad range of local authorities, organisations and communities to take their own projects forward. It provided inspiration from other Stalled Spaces projects that have taken place in Scotland and across the UK.

Stalled Spaces projects demonstrated include themes such as temporary gardens, events and arts spaces and opportunities to transform places for urban growing. The seminar heard why temporary use is important and how temporary projects can benefit neighbourhoods.

Stalled Spaces Scotland draws learning from the award winning Stalled Spaces initiative led by Glasgow City Council with Architecture and Design Scotland providing support and guidance for local authorities across Scotland to develop their own local Stalled Spaces initiatives.

To align with the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Action Plan and the Town Centre First Principle the programme will primarily look at stalled spaces located within town centres to empower people to bring these spaces back into positive use for the benefit for the whole community.

Minister for local government and community empowerment Marco Biagi said:“I am pleased to be able to announce the successful projects that will now be taking part in the Legacy 2014 Stalled Spaces Scotland Programme, one of more than 50 national Legacy 2014 programmes helping to secure lasting benefits from the Commonwealth Games.

“Building on the potential of the original Glasgow project, we committed under the Town Centre Action Plan to work with Architecture and Design Scotland to support this programme with a focus specifically on finding temporary uses for sites within town centres. The Stalled Spaces Scotland programme is about empowering communities to creatively improve their own town centre environments, while at the same time helping to draw people together and strengthen social ties.”

Sue Evans, member of the A+DS Board, said: “Today’s seminar is not only an opportunity to announce the local authorities that will be taking forward Stalled Spaces Scotland programmes supported by A+DS, but it also serves as a wider resource to communities who would like to create their own temporary uses for vacant sites across Scotland.

“We were very impressed by the quality of proposals received through this process, and we are confident that there are many fantastic ideas throughout the country just needing a little bit of inspiration and practical information to get their projects off the ground.”