This is an example of what I believe is needed:
http://bigcityplan.birmingham.gov.uk/wp ... Part-1.pdfcompared to:
http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/inde ... leid=27319Now i'm the first to accept that there is a world of difference between a city the size of Birmingham and a town the size of Cumbernauld. However the basic principles still hold true. Indeed as i've written about on here before the Bullring is the closest comparison in the UK. Anyone not familiar with it and how it came to be master planned and regenerated have a read at this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_Ring,_BirminghamI'm sure NLC genuinely believe in the Framework they have come up with however it is bland, dull and utterly unimaginative.
For example, Outcome 2.6 - Promote and encourage a more diverse mix of uses in the town centre. Really? How? With multiple owners only interested in rents how can this possibly be delivered? And what exactly are examples of this NLC? Care to share any with us?
A different model would allow NLC to dictate WHAT uses go WHERE. A simplistic example - We live in a world of internet shopping and home delivery. Retail has changed and we all get that. But surely there is still a role for small traders? Why not designate an area of the centre exclusively for that? By design not by chance or accident like today. Let them feed of each other and grow their businesses not as today where they are spread over entire centre. The old Market Hall anyone where Iceland is now? Lots of small traders? This stuff isn't hard... The closet you get is Outcome 2.2 Encourage and promote new business start-ups and retention of existing businesses - again how?
Another example (referred to in previous post)
Outcome 6.6 Explore the options for enhancing & refurbishing key features of the town centre’s architectural heritage. But as we see from the Delegated Report for Forth Walk in relation to the St Enoch's clock, NLC chuck it because the Antonine Centre management don't reply to their requests. Really?
Explore, Encourage, Promote, Develop, Review - David Brent would be proud of these...