Sustaining a Warm Blairgowrie

E xecuti ve S u m m ary

This repor t aspires to critically evaluate the proper ty development process of The Eden Project, comparing it against a critical framework to analyse its successes or failures throughout the development process. The Eden Project has been used as a case study, to provide a deeper under standing of the practices within the proper ty development processes.

The critical framework which the project is assessed against has been developed through an analysis of various literature sources, studying the likes of the front-end planning process, risk management and the project governance. Combining all the various factor s together, construct an overall framework , which the project can then be evaluated against, defining if it was successful or not.

The front-end planning process of The Eden Project proved to be a vital component to the overall projects success, highlighting risks during this stage in order to plan, manage and mitigate these in the future of the project and taking many of the key decisions within this stage.

Through the evaluation of the front-end planning process and the critical framework it was discovered that The Eden Project is a successful example in each of the various stages within the proper ty development processes.

Content s I ntro d uc ti o n - Fue l Pover ty - Tim e line - The Ma ni fe s to

B a ckg ro u n d Re se a rc h - S oc io- Ec o no mi c - Ne t Ze ro S c otl and - Tow ards a Ci rc u l ar E c o no my

Po l i ci e s - Loc a l - Re gional - Na tiona l

C a s e Stu d i e s - The Isle of E i gg, S c o tl and - B rune c k , I tal y - Vauban, G e rmany

P ha s e 1 | Im p l e m e n ta ti o n - Marke ting - Stake hold e r s

P ha s e 2 | In di v i du a l Pe o ple - C om m uni ty E ne rgy Hu b - Re ne w abl e fo r the E ne rgy Hu b - Re trofitti ng I ndi vi du al Home s

P ha s e 3 | Re gi o n a l - C o-Liv ing - C om m uni ty Bu y -I n

P ha s e 4 | N a ti o n a l - C ollabora ti on

C o ncl u si o n Re fe ren c e s - B ibliogra phy - Figure s

“ There is a st rong id e nt it y b e t we e n t he sk in and t he s e ns at ion of home. The ex p er i enc e of home is e ss e nt i a l ly an e xp e r ie nce of w ar mt h. T he sp a ce of war mt h arou nd a f ire pl a c e is t he sp ace of u lt imate int imac y and com for t.

A s ens e of home c om ing is ne ve r st ronge r t han s e e ing a l ig ht in t he w i ndow of a hous e i n a s now c ove re d l ands c ap e at dusk; t he re me mbrance of its war m i nter i or ge nt ly w ar ms one’s f roze n l imbs . Home and sk in tur n i nto a sing l e s ens at ion .’’ ( Pa l l as ma a , 19 9 4 ) .

1 .0 Introdu ct ion 1.1 Conte x t Blairgowrie is a town in Per thshire known for its rich industrial past; historically in the textile industr y, which utilised the River Ericht to power 13 mills, and more recently for sof t fruit farming.

With a population of 10,000, Blairgowrie continues to grow at three times the rate of any other Scottish town (B&R Community Action Plan, 2018).

The aging housing stock across the town is unequipped to cope with Scottish winter s, introducing the topic of Fuel Pover ty. Blairgowrie is becoming a dormitor y town, with an ageing population, and a high percentage of impoverished people. With this year s COP26 hosted in Glasgow and rising prices of oil and gas (Blairgowrie’s main source of energy), fuel pover ty and sustainable energy solutions have never been more topical.

With neighbouring city Per th aiming to become ‘ The Most Sustainable Small City in Europe’, Blairgowrie is a prime location to attempt to tackle fuel pover ty through energy transition and retrofitting homes. Pioneering to become ‘Scotland’s Fir st Carbon-Neutral Town’ through innovative, sustainable solutions that fit the character of the place whilst also giving residents the foundation for a healthy and happy life.

1.2 F ue l Pove r t y Fuel Pover ty: ‘ The condition of being unable to afford to keep one’s home adequately heated’.

“A household is in fuel pover ty if, in order to maintain a satisfactor y heating regime, total fuel cost s necessar y for the home are more than 10% of the household’s adjusted net income (af ter housing costs), and if af ter deducting fuel costs, benefits received for a care need or disability and childcare costs, the household’s remaining adjusted net income is insufficient to maintain an acceptable standard of living.” - (Scottish Housing Condition Sur vey, 2017-2019) There are 3 impor tant elements in determining whether a household is fuel poor : Household income Household energy requirements Fuel prices

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Warmth and Shelter are two of the founding principles of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Until these steps are met, people will struggle to begin progressing towards a healthy and happy life.

There is no reasonable excuse for people in Scotland to suffer from fuel pover ty. Giving ever yone the ability to reach a point where self-actualisation can be possible should be strived towards in strategy planning; as it is where exploration and play can begin.

1.3 T i m e l i n e of F u e l Po ve r t y

1.4 T h e M a n i fe s to Main Issues •

Fuel Pover ty as a wicked issue in Blairgowrie and the surrounding area.

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Environmentally damaging current fuel provisions e.g. gas, coal.

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Current housing inequalities, especially for elderly people who have been relocated to the outskir ts of town.

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There are several gap-sites/vacant buildings in the town centre that need a purpose.

Acti ons/ Solutions •

Meeting Scottish carbon emission targets in the transpor t, fuel and housing sector s in a bid to de-carbonise Blairgowrie and wider Scotland.

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Reducing housing inequality, par ticularly for the elderly and those with disabilities, by using incentives to encourage relocation into the town centre.

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Improving the quality of housing, including the amount/material of insulation used and energy generation methods.

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Promoting circular economy/city principles in par tner ship with local farms and hospitality.

Regenerating vacant buildings, being mindful of heritage and community values.

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Branding Blairgowrie as a ‘self-sufficient’ town.

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A community buy-in system to maximise fuel effectiveness, preventing waste and adver se effects on the climate.

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Opening a sustainably powered community hub branded the ‘community living room’ for use by the public.

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Providing co-housing developments to maximise fuel usage and reduce social issues whilst improving the health and well-being of residents.

2 . 0 B ackg ro u n d Re se ar c h 2 . 1 Con te x t

L is te d B uilding s & Co nser vation area

B u ild i n g A ge s M a p

Bu ild in gs A g e s

2 . 2 S oc i o- Eco n o m i c The data demonstrates nearly half of the working population of Blairgowrie are in the Social Grade 4 categor y. Suggesting these people may be earning a low wage, potentially resulting in hardpressed living. Over 75% of households are heated with gas, which is bad for both the environment and the bank with gas prices on the rise. A third of the population is over 60 indicating an aging population (Scottish Census, 2011).

Pie charts

Pie charts

Wh e re t h e e l de rl y l i ve

W h e re t h e Eld e rly L ive

U n e mpl o y m e n t l e ve l s

U n e m plo yment L e vels

H ou s e s o w n e d

H o u s e s O wned

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Pe opl e l i v i n g a l o n e

Pe o ple L iv ing A lo ne

H a rd pre s s e d l i v i n g

H a rd P res s ed L iving

“If someone is hard-pressed, they are under a great deal of strain and worr y, usually because they have not got enough money”.

Highlighted are the areas of Blairgowrie where a large amount of people fall into this categor y. Hard Pressed Living has a direct correlation to people who are suffering from fuel pover ty, as they are unable to pay their energy bills.

C omm u n i t y S pa c e s

Net Ze ro S co t l a n d Net Zero aims to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions across Scotland by 2045, with interim targets of 75% reduction by 2030 and 90% by 2040. An ambitious aim, the key methods for reduction are highlighted in the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019. This includes: Creation of annual targets to track progress Increase in district heating systems in new developments Reduction/removal of fossil fuels as the primar y energy source across Scotland Par tner ship with the ‘Climate Justice Principle’ to fight climate change on a global scale (Scottish Government, 2019) Net Zero envisions a future with warmer homes, energy produced by renewable sources, greater investment in green infrastructure, de-carbonised public transpor t and cleaner air (2019). In essence, a resilient countr y against the outcomes of climate change. Scotland has already proven successful in halving emissions over a period of 29 year s: from 1990 to 2019 (Net Zero, 2019).

To wards A C i rcu l a r Eco n o m y Moving towards a circular economy is one way to contribute to lowering emissions and improving resource efficiency. ‘In modern capitalism, waste has become a negativity of production and consumption’ (Savini, 2019, 677). Not only does a circular economy strive to reduce waste, it demands a change from the standard consumerist attitude of ‘use then dispose’. A circular approach should include plans for the disposal and/or reuse of the product within the design phase; this includes buildings too. To achieve full circularity in both cities and products a ‘mesolevel framework is required’ such as ReSOLVE (Prendeville et al, 2017, 173).

In the context of fuel pover ty, improving health and wellbeing, and encouraging sustainable living, the ReSOLVE framework would be a highly effective method to adopt. This framework involves six key stages for adopting a circular economy: ‘regenerate, share, optimise, loop, vir tualise, exchange’ (Williams, 2016). Each stage takes a sustainable approach to use, reuse, and disposal with suggestions such as: Moving towards renewable energy generation Anaerobic digestion of food/farm waste for fuel production Encouraging sharing of products such as car s, bikes Our inter ventions propose methods of incorporating a circular economy across Blairgowrie, from using local sheep’s wool as insulation for housing to creating a circular production of renewable energy within the community hub. Where an excess energy is produced in neighbourhoods with access to solar panels, the surplus is then reused in other areas without access to renewable energy production methods. This creates a cycle of sustainable energy production and sharing across Blairgowrie, fur ther reiterating the ‘self-sustaining’ aspect of our action plan.

Po l i ci es Loc al In 2016, the community came together alongside exper ts in the field of planning and design to discuss Blairgow rie and produce a charrette. This collective gives the community the oppor tunity to interact with their place and play a proactive role in making positive changes to the town.

There were five key methods used for an inclusive charrette, including individual inter views and workshops with the local schools.

The charrette findings, are based around the place standard tool and its 14 criteria; approx.

150 people took par t in inter views and scored their place out of 7. The average score across all par ticipants has been used to summarise the data into one place standard tool, with scores between 3.67 an d 5.41.

Of the 14 categories, four tie in closely with the concept of fuel pover ty and adjoining issues. The table shows the charrette findings for these categories mentioned which link with our proposed inter ventions.

The local network of community-led groups such as the Development Trust and collaborative urban design as seen in the Charrette show a proactive approach to planning within the town and its surrounding areas. One issue missing from the charrette findings is fuel pover ty, yet many of the problems highlighted are intrinsically interlinked with the ability, or lack of, to heat ever y home.

Overlaying the l ocal development plan map of proposals onto the gap sites we have identified demonstrates that current plans are to expand the outskir ts, rather than improving existing housing within the central town core.

Three sites (all on the outskir ts) have been proposed for additional housing, creating an evergrowing town which fails to prioritise the quality of housing for existing residents. The gap sites we have identified are located within the town centre; aiming to focus on the re-use and re-vamp aspects of the ci rcular economy rather than building new.

Map

Reg i on a l On a regional basis, Blairgowrie follows the Per th and Kinross local development plan (LDP) in par tner ship with the Tayplan strategic development plan. The LDP reiterates the four visions set out in both Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and National Planning Framework 3 (NPF3); visions one ‘A successful, sustainable place’ and four ‘A low carbon place’ relate closely to our inter ventions.

The LDP, running from 2019 to 2029, includes statutor y guidance on how to achieve the ambitious visions in Blairgowrie including: New developments must be able to provide evidence of at least a 10% reduction in carbon emissions.

District heating system for new developments.

Land designated for wind powered energy production.

Tayplan’s strategy designates Blairgowrie as a ‘ Tier 2 Principal Settlement’ within the Strathmore and the Glens region, estimating an average of 121 new homes are required ever y year in the area (Tayplan, 16, 23). The ‘ Town Centre Fir st’ policy encourages development within the towns core fir st, preferably using vacant brownfield sites. Tayplan fur ther encourages the use of the waste and resource management hierarchy in the construction phases.

Nat i onal Across Scotland, the planning system follows NPF3 (soon to be replaced with NPF4) which is suppor ted by SPP and supplementar y guidance. NPF3 works on a national scale, highlighting current projects with major significance to Scotland as well as designating land for future developments.

The paper itself fails to include fuel pover ty as a concept, SPP however includes related issues. This involves the implementation of initiatives such as the ‘ Town Centre Fir st’ strategy and sustainable resource management in the form of a circular economy (SPP, 2014, 9).

NPF4 stretches from its commencement in 2021 until 2050, with a review expected ever y 10 year s.

The approach taken differ s to NPF3; the main document is a stand-alone piece, with Scottish Plan ning Policy being retired once NPF4 comes into play. It is currently unclear whether fuel pover ty will be addressed in the strategy, yet there is a significant need for its inclusion. Our strategy aims to reduce fuel pover ty case s within Blairgowrie and the surrounding villages, yet can be applied on a national level in terms of policy, law and guidance. We aim to ensure fuel pover ty is recognised within development plans and strategies to increase awareness of the associated issues as well as encouraging local developer s and policymaker s to take a proactive approach to designing out pover ty of all kinds. Fuel Pover ty itself is a devolved issue, yet other factor s such as fuel prices and minimum wage are not (Boardman, 2010, 190). This creates a divide between countries in the UK , as the necessar y collaborative approach is of ten difficult to organise between all stakeholder s.

C ase Studi e s

Wo rl d M a p

Th e Isl e of Ei gg, S co t l a n d The Isle of Eigg is the world’s fir st community to begin an ‘off-grid’ electric system operated almost exclusively by renewables. Taking advantage of its remote location, utilising wind, water, and solar power to produce 90-95% of its energy. However, they cannot solely rely on the weather, and therefore have back-up generator s to ‘top-up’ the energy when they are unable to produce enough (Gardiner, 2017).

Lessons to Learn: The Isle sets a daily maximum limit to how much energy residents can use to prevent their system from overloading. As a result, all the inhabitants get fair access to energy, encouraging them to think about how much they use, ensuring ever yone gets an equal share.

Blairgowrie would have the benefit of still being connected to the grid, but if a similar system was adopted it could urge people to think more about their per sonal power usage and if its really necessar y. The hope in using a system like this is the guarantee that no one goes without power.

Bru n e c k , Ita l y Bruneck in Nor thern Italy uses a unique system to influence people to think about how much energy they use. They introduced a policy requiring households to produce at least 25% of the energy they use themselves through renewable sources. As a result of this policy, Bruneck holds buildings and households responsible for their own power and how much they use (World Smar t Cities Forum, 2020).

Lessons to learn: If a similar strategy was implemented within Blairgowrie, it could prevent unnecessar y use of energy. An added incentive would be beneficial introducing a similar policy, creating a ‘buy-in strategy’ adding a fur ther motivation to switch to renewables. This method could also be combined with a community heat plant, acting as a back-up source of power.

Vau ba n, G e r m a n y Vauban is the most sustainable town in Europe with ever y home being plus-energy or passive standard. It is the fir st community in the world where ever y dwelling has solar panels and produces an energy surplus, being described as Europe’s ‘solar city’. These plus-energy buildings have the unique ability to sell their excess energy back to the grid, resulting in considerably lower energy bills for the towns citizens (Firley, Grön, 2013).

Lessons to learn: As an exemplar town, Vauban has learnt many lessons which could be transferable to Blairgowrie.

Adopting controver sial policies with ‘big changes’ can be difficult, so should be done in phases, taking a ‘bottom-up’ approach. When adjusting from different scales, phases should be adaptable and learn from what has been successfu l in previous phases. Including incentives for embracing the policies is beneficial, giving a reason to change. Involving the citizens of Blairgowrie within the decision making process from the outset is crucial to ‘getting people on board’. Long-term goals should be put in place, in order to continue working towards the main objective, what do you want your town to look like in 20 year s?

P h a si ng

Map

P h a se 1 Mar ke ti ng Before any physical inter ventions are implemented, a series of workshops and events to engage with the locals will be introduced. Charette style workshops could provide fur ther solutions and better alternatives to the current proposals in the LDP. Par t of the solution is behavioural change therefore education is key to ensure the scheme is a success.

P h a se 2 Co m m un i ty En e rgy H u b In phase 2 we lay the foundations for the individual by offering a place of free warmth, integrating infrastructure and a community hub to create the “community energy hub”. “Dir ty infrastructure” such as the stereotypical coal energy plant of the 90’s were typically shunned to the outskir ts of cities; for the town to be inhabitable the energy source should be clean.

The energy plant not only generates electricity but stores excess energy and distributes it evenly throughout the community. As Blairgowrie transitions from feeding off the energy hub to being energy positive, the hub will generate less and less of its own electricity. As people require the community hub less for warmth, it is fundamental the building is flexible, providing alternative uses of social infrastructure such as a nur ser y or GP surger y.

Taking inspiration from Jane Jacob, the hub is a coming together place where spontaneous interactions happen between people. We hope it will become a think-tank where ideas about the future of Blairgowrie and Rattray can be generated.

How to Powe r Th e C o m m u n it y En ergy Hu b Renewables contribute 26% of the world’s electricity generation, second behind coal. There is a global transition under way to lower carbon energy, with renewable energies leading the way (Energy Institute, 2021). There are many benefits to opting for renewables, from the reduction of air pollution to minimising greenhouse gas emissions. Each renewable has pros and cons, which shall be assessed to examine which would be the most effective for Blairgowrie.

Win d Blairgowrie could utilise its rural location through placing wind-turbines on surrounding fields; one wind-turbine could sufficiently generate enough power f or the community hub alone. If successful, it could be favourable from the towns per spective to expand these farms in order to cover all houses. However, the visual impact may be off putting for residents.

The use of wind-turbines has been explored fur ther within phase 3.

Bio m a ss Biomass is derived from five energy sources and creates a circular economy; by using what is other wise waste to generate energy. The biggest example in Scotland is the powerplant at Greengair s which produces enough power annually to supply 70,000 homes. However, it produces air pollution in the form of carbon monoxide, which may raise concern as being unsuitable for a rural town (Biomass Energy in Scotland, 2011).

Hydro Hydro energy would be an excellent method for powering the community hub due to the many abandoned mills located along the river Ericht which flows through the town cent re. This could provide an oppor tune setting to create a scenic hub. The use of hydropower would connect back to Blairgowrie’s heritage, utilising some of the existing infrastructure which currently lies abandoned.

So l a r Solar power is also a viable option.

As obser ved through case studies, we discovered other towns employing solar power with similar climates to Blairgowrie such as Vauban. To acquire the rewards of solar power, it would be beneficial to introduce this at a larger scale than solely the community hub, as explored in phase 3.

Nu c l e a r Nuclear energy requires the smallest land footprint of any renewable source, permitting many possible si tes in Blairgowrie. Contrar y to other methods, it doesn’t rely on the climate to produce energy and is the only ‘always-on’ renewable source. Although sometimes frowned upon, nuclear can be a safe and carbon-free source of energy.

Relying on skilled operator s and a large setup cost. However, this provides an oppor tunity to create additional jobs with the initial costs being offset in the longterm (Net Zero Needs Nuclear).

Map

Summ ar y The renewable energy source we have selected for powering the community hub is hydro-power. This style encompasses the towns heritage and makes use of the existing infrastructure and mills which already line the riverbank .

Indi v i dual H o m e s The Community Energy Hub can be used to promote and educate people on the use of microsustainable in th eir own homes. These implementations would be offered to all; resultantly, newer homes feedback into the community system and older houses benefit from reduced bills. Most of these systems are ver y fast and cheap to implement; this not only benefits the locals but offsets current strain on the existing national grid i.e. reduction in distance to user = a reduction in network losses.

Retrof i tti ng Solar power is also a viable option. As obser ved through case studies, we discovered other towns employing solar power with similar climates to Blairgowrie such as Vauban. To acquire the rewards of solar power, it would be beneficial to introduce this at a larger scale than solely the community hub, as explored in phase 3.

Nu c l e a r Nuclear energy requires the smallest land footprint of any renewable source, permitting many possible sites in Blairgowrie. Contrar y to other methods, it doesn’t rely on the climate to produce energy and is the only ‘always-on’ renewable source. Although sometimes frowned upon, nuclear can be a safe and carbon-free source of energy. Relying on skilled operator s and a large setup cost . However, this provides an oppor tunity to create additional jobs with the initial costs being offset in the long-term (Net Zero Needs Nuclear).

Ref ur bi sh me n t What proper ties are appropriate for refurbishing? Weighing up a buildings character against it’s comfor t is impor tant to consider (Eriksson & Hermann, 2014). Less visually impactfully methods of refurbishment can be applied to preser ve the visual integrity of central Blairgowrie. Careful wording of planning policy will be requ ired to guide responsible retrofit (Valentina & Virginia, 2021).

Win d ows & Do o r s Upgrading windows to double glazing is a simple and effective way to increase air tightness and reduce loss-of-heat, leading to lower energy bills. Grants are available in Scotland to help offset cost s, although planning permission may be required in some cases. In conser vation areas or those with historical significance, the windows may need to be of a par ticular design which can incur significant additional costs. The community energy hub hopes to alleviate the usual energy costs of such proper ties, encouraging young families and the elderly into the town centre.

Bo i l e r s

An efficiently running heating source can make a massive difference to energy bills; grants are available to offset the large initial costs. Wales has an excellent scheme named “Arbed” which has helped install efficient boiler s in many homes within the countr y.

Centralised heating systems (CHS) are a popular way to reduce the costs of heating. Having a cent ral boiler feeding multiple homes increases efficiency and gives the resident flexibility to choose alternati ve fuel sources. Integrating this into the Community Energy Hub would be an exciting oppor tunity.

Inte r nal In s u l a t i o n This a great option for homes with attic voids and suspended floor s. The attic is the preferred option, having the least effect during fitting but achieving the largest impact. Taking advantage of loca l resources is possible in Blairgowrie; many local sheep farms burn their wool instead of taking it to market as the value of wool has dropped. Using local wool lower s both transpor tation costs and fuel bills whilst providing income for farmer s as a circular self-sustaining economy.

E x te r nal In s u l a t i o n External insulation can be an effective way to insulate poorly constructed proper ties. Its ver satility allows application at any scale, from small cottages to high-rise flats. Installation causes little disturbance while retaining internal floor space, making it a popular choice for council-owned proper ties (King & Weeks, 2016). Care should be given when choosing what building to apply it to as the visual impact on the area can render a previously rich street, a beige one.

E du c ati on An aspect of ten over-looked is educating the home-occupier on how to achieve a balance of heating needs for the home. A case study in Greenock showed that although the project was set to achieve lower energy usage, it remained high as the occupier chose to open windows instead of turn ing the heating off when the proper ty became too hot. Additions such as energy monitor s and a usage charge rather than a flat-rate bill has shown a dramatic decrease in energy consumption across the estate.

Ana l y si s of Exi s t i n g H o u s i n g Stoc k Various factor s can cause fuel pover ty, from the number of people living in a house to the economic activity of residents. We have analysed three housing estates (Isla Road, Crof t Cour t and Davie Park) located across Blairgowrie and Rattray to discover how they per form against several common factor s of fuel pover ty.

E ne rg y Pe r f o r m a n ce The higher the rating on the graph, the lower the fuel bills are likely to be. The Scottish average is 61, indicating 2 of the 3 areas studied are under per forming against the national average. The potential rating is impor tant as it demonstrates the highest possible value each house is capable of achieving if the recommended improvement measures are followed.

E nv i ronm e n t a l Im pa ct The higher the rating, the less impact the houses have on the environment. The current average for Scotland is 59, revealing all 3 of the case studies are either on or below the national average.

The potential rating demonstrates the effect of carr ying out all the recommended improvements.

He a l th There is evidence in the UK that health is strongly linked to age, however the affluence of a neighbourhood also can influence the residents’ health. In deprived areas, residents typically have a poorer standard of health.

E c on om i c A ct i v i t y The economic activity of residents gives an indication of the income earned by each household, which is a direct connection to fuel pover ty, demonstrating who is affected by it.

Hou si ng Te n u re The housing tenure between the three developments studied various greatly, with council rented proper ty being the most common amongst the different occupancies.

Hou si ng Oc cu pa n cy The smaller the size of the household living in a proper ty suggests a link to a higher chance of suffering from fuel pover ty. This is because it costs significantly more to heat a proper ty from one income rather than three or four.

Isla Roa d S u m m a r y The housing around this area is currently outside Scotland’s Energy Efficient route map. It would be beneficial to the area to implement a number of our suggested improvements to allow the houses to upgrade from a D rating to a B rating.

The majority of people residing in the area are elderly or retired, with houses containing 1 or 2 people per home. Many of the houses are privately-owned, making it more difficult to encourage improvement through regulation. A high propor tion of people suffer from poor health here, more than other areas, providing an imperative reason to end fuel pover ty in Isla Road.

Crof t Cour t Su m m a r y The flats surrounding this area are currently out with Scotland’s Energy Efficient route map. It would be helpful to apply the suggeste d improvements mentioned above to increase it to a B rating; especially the integrated, full block improvements.

The majority of people who live in these houses are middle-aged and employed without families.

This could prove the per fect location next to the town centre for the elderly, although the high fuel costs could deter them. The flats tend to be rented, making it easier to improve them via legislation. A high number of people suffer from fuel pover ty despite their younger age, could this be caused by high fuel costs?

D av i e Pa rk H o u s i n g S u m m a r y The flats around this area are the fur thest of the three from meeting Scotland’s Energy Efficient route map, making it crucial to employ a number of the proposed changes to this area.

The demographics of this area are retired and middle-aged, some with families. This could be a prime oppor tunity and location to attract the elderly with a close proximity to the town centre, yet the high fuel costs detract from its potential. Many of the houses are rented from the council, making them much easier to improve and implement change.

Future D e ve l o pm e n t Po l i cy As Blairgowrie inevitably has more developments in the future, it is impor tant to promote low fuel cost construction methods; this can be enforced through building regulations. Simpler design principles can m ake a large impact with ver y little additional cost to developer s: - Maximising daylight can help to reduce light usage and therefore energy bills.

- Controlling Solar gain to maximise natural heating using solar path analysis.

- Natural ventilation, through passive rather than mechanical systems.

P H AS E 3 Co - Li v i n g Cohousing can be described as:

“Intentional communities, created and run by their residents. Each household has a selfcontained, private home as well as share d community space. Residents come together to manage their community, share activities, and regularly eat together “- UK Cohousing Network (2021)

The main premise behind our intergenerational co-housing scheme is to encourage a slowerpaced approach to community living. When looking at the demographics most effected by fuel pover ty, the ageing population and single-parent families rank the highest. Encouraging intergenerational housing schemes can be beneficial for several reasons: it reduces loneliness, lessens the amount of fuel required fur ther minimising the associated costs, and encourages sustainable practices, such as resource-sharing to reduce waste. Within the B&R Charrette, isolation was highlighted as an issue effecting the town; co-housing could provide the solution, par ticularly within the elderly community and single-parent families. The potential for microrenewables is greater in a co-housing unit; of ten built in a block-like style, such developments can hold heat well if insulated correctly. Co-housing is a relatively new typology based on a more traditional style of living. New developments are appearing constantly; by phase 4 in the strategy, we expect co-housing to be a common development style.

Ma r m a l a de L a n e , C a m br i dge Marmalade Lane is a prime example of co-housing in action, inspired by the neighbourhood of Vauban in Germany. Construction began in 2017 and the fir st residents arrived in 2018; at present, there is only one home for sale and a lengthy waiting list of prospective residen ts.

There are four main types of housing available, all built in the local vernacular, giving a variety of sizes and style to suit ever yone.

Marmalade Lane contains parking within the site and a pedestrian bias on the roads, encouraging residents to opt for more sustainable transpor t methods. The development includes private gardens to the rear and shared green space in the centre to encourage socialising and growing produce. The CCL explains that it ‘uses sustainable raw materials, passive energy design principles and the Trivselhus Climate Shield® building system to produce homes that are energy efficient’ (2021).

C omm unit y B u y- in P V Pan e l s o n Poly Tunnels To fa cilita te ch ange requires a st rong ne t wo r k of c o m m u ni t y su ppo r t . The m o re p e o p le wi t hin th e a re a w ant ing to get involve d i n t he ‘c o m m u ni t y bu y-i n’, t he gre ate r t he i m pa ct th e ch a nge can have. Creat ing i nc e nt i ve s be hi nd t he c o m m u ni t y bu y-i n i s i m p er a tive to i t s success. Providing be ne f i t s f o r t he re si de nt s of B l ai rgo w r i e wo u l d m o t iva te th e m to invest in t he project , and re su l t ant l y i nto t he i r to w n. T he c o m m u n ity b u y - in s ug ge s ted for Blairgow rie has st ro ng l i nks to t he to w ns he r i t age , w i t h t he s of t f r u i t i n d u s tr y being well est ablished si nc e t he be gi nni ng of t he 1 900s and st i l l val ua b le tod a y to th e communit y, local econom y and to w n’s i de nt i t y.

O f te n in f r uit grow ing, poly t unnels a re u t i l i se d to c re ate hi ghe r te m pe r at u re s and h u m id i ty. Dur ing t he summer mont hs, a ne t t i ng shade i s pu l l e d o ve r t he po l y t u nn e l (of te n gre e n ) to reduce t he amount of l i ght ge t t i ng i n. A n al te rnat i ve m e t ho d, te s te d i n Ch in a , is to ut ilise t his space for sol ar pane l s w hi c h gi ve par t i al shade du r i ng c e r ta in t i m es of th e d ay.

T h i s me th o d could be t he most effect i ve c o m m u ni t y bu y-i n f o r t he pe o pl e of B l a i rg o wrie by supplying t he PV panel s to l o c al sof t-f r u i t f arm e r s. I t i s a m i ni m al i m pa ct in te r ve nt ion and only cover s a f r ac t i o n of t he r u r al gro u nd c o m pare d to oth e r m e t h o ds s uch as w ind t urbines. It is b e ne f i c i al f o r bo t h par t i e s, T he f arm e r s ge t a m p le s h ad e f o r cro ps w hile t he investor s bene f i t f ro m of f se t e l e c t r i c i t y c o st s. T he e xc e s s e ne rg y p ro duced w ill be fed into t he c o m m u ni t y hu b and di st r i bu te d ac ro ss t he town .

A d vo ca tin g f o r resident s to ‘buy-in’ to t hi s pro po sal wo u l d he l p t he sc he m e t r ans p ire , wi t h th e a dd e d incent ive of energy bene f i t s i n t he f u t u re , c re at i ng a wo r t hw hi l e i nve s tme n t f o r t he w hole tow n.

A ‘ 1 me g a wa tt’ plant can supply powe r f o r u p to 200 ho u se ho l ds; t he f arm l and req u i re me n ts f or a 1-M W solar plant i s aro u nd 5 ac re s. T he to t al are a of t he t hre e g ree n h o u s e f a rms surrounding Blairgow r i e i s 1 23 A c re s. I f P V Pane l s we re i nst al l e d to a ll t h ree s ite s pla c ed on t he glass of t he po l y t u nne l s, t he y c o u l d po we r 4 , 920 ho u seh o ld s , s e r v i n g mo re than t he number of hou se s i n B l ai rgo w r i e and R at t r ay c o m bi ne d.

Co m m un i ty- o w n e d w i n d t u r bin e in Aberdeen s hire Ca s e St u dy “It has been a long journey involving dozens of local people and lots of hurdles, but it has definitely been wor th it.” (Colin Wood, Project Leader, 2013)

Fet te r a n gus in Aberdeenshire is home to aro u nd 4 80 pe o pl e and o w ns a 77-m e t re win d t u r bi n e , e xpe cted to generate £75,00 0 a ye ar f o r t he to w n ( A m o s, 201 3) . The e xc es s e ne rg y p ro duced af ter powering t he 3 00 ho m e s and bu si ne sse s i s f e d bac k i nto t h e n at i o n a l g rid . Any profit generated is ke pt w i t hi n t he to w n and u se d to re ge ne r ate th e vi l l ag e , pro vi d i ng oppor t unit ies for you ng pe o pl e .

Ta k in g 8 ye a r s to develop from init ial i de a to f i ni she d pro du c t and c o st i ng £1 . 5 m illio n , t h e ‘ Fis h ie ’ win d t urbine took inspirat i o n f ro m o t he r l o c al pro j e c t s o n t he i sl ands of T i re e a n d L e wis. The project feat ured a c o m m u ni t y bu y-i n pro po sal and w as l arge ly f u n de d b y th e Scot t ish Government and Re ne w abl e Ene rgy S c he m e . Fi nal l y c o m pl ete d i n 20 13 , re s i d e nt s have already began to c l ai m t he re w ards of i nve st i ng i n t he i r to wn a nd will h o pe f ully cont inue to benefit f ro m t he sc he m e o ve r t he ne x t 25 ye ar s + ( A m o s , 2 01 3).

B l a i rg o wrie co uld benefit from a com m u ni t y bu y-i n su c h as a w i nd-t u r bi ne w i t h t h e e ne rg y p ro duced being used t hrougho u t t he to w n. I t wo u l d be a v i abl e o pt i o n m ov in g f o r w a rd pro vi d ed t he solar panels didn’ t f u nc t i o n su f f i c i e nt l y i n pro du c i ng e no u gh e ne rg y f o r th e w hole tow n. Wind t urb i ne s wo u l d be a l o gi c al su bl i m ate to add t he a m ou n t of e n e rgy w hich t he tow n can pro du c e t hro u gh re ne w abl e s.

P H AS E 3 Reg i on a l & N a t i o n a l C o l l a bora t ion The timeline shows future policy and goals set by the UK and Scottish Government relating to fuel pover ty. This includes the end of the UN sustainable development goals in 2030 and ambitious target set by the UK Government of ‘no more than 5% of households recorded to be in fuel pover ty’ by 2040 (UK Government, 2014).

The fir st stage of our regional inter ventions star ts with the implementation of community hubs in the villages surrounding Blairgowrie with the next step involving the rollout of community hubs across Scotland, improving on the initial trial hub in Blairgowrie. The fir st neighbourhoods approached will be those with a significant ageing population or high percentage of those classed as ‘vulnerable’. As well as a space of warmth, the community hubs play the role of an education centre, where people can go for advice about heating their homes. The same process applies to the ‘community buy-in’, with local communities choosing the style of renewable energy preferred and the possible location for it.

As highlighted in the LDP, Tayplan Strategic Plan, SPP and NPF3, new developments are encouraged to include renewable energy methods, adequate insulation, and access to green infrastructure. Our aim is to push this fur ther, making ‘green energy’ mandator y in ever y new dwelling regardless of size and style. The type of insulation can be crucial in reducing fuel costs; agricultural by-products and other materials should be incorporated into construction and design guidance. Given the agricultural landscape of Blairgowrie (and rural Scotland), the LDP and NPF4 include sheep’s wool as an affordable insulation material tying in with the aim for a Net Zero Scotland and suppor ting a circular economy.

When planning new developments for the elderly, vulnerable people or single-parent families, cohousing should be offered as an option. Intergenerational housing is of ten bypassed for other styles of development, yet could be most effective in reducing fuel costs, preventing loneliness, and encouraging sustainable living. On a regional and national level, this should be an option for affordable housing developments.

While current goals set out by the government are ambitious and show the impor tance of a well heated and powered home, a proactive approach to meeting the goal has not been taken, as seen in figure 6. Rather than tackle fuel pover ty as a series of individual issues evident in the current ‘reductionist’ approach, a systematic framework should be implemented that cover s all basis of fuel pover ty under one unit. On a national scale, this should be produced as a collaborative UK strategy as opposed to a devolved approach. To stop fuel pover ty as a wicked problem, NPF4 should include the issue and make it a statutor y obligation for energy companies to connect with consumer s to under stand the complex problem and its potential solutions.

CONC LUS ION Studying the issue of Fuel Pover ty through an energy transition strategy has highlighted the relevance and impor tance of the topic. Blairgowrie is the ideal area to propose such a strategy due to it’s size and relationship to Per th, which is aiming to become ‘the most sustainable small city in Europe’. Our unique approach from the individual to a national roll-out creates a bedrock foundation to build from, helping the people that need it most fir st then progressing upwards scale-wise. The proposal is implemented through a series of inter ventions which were discussed throughout this repor t. Each reference has been justified with sources and case studies to prove its viability in Blairgowrie.

Through our strategic inter ventions, we hope Blairgowrie could act as the model town to base future strategies on and be Scotland’s fir st ‘carbon-neutral, self-sustaining town’.

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