Making Places
From the early days of the community’s Open Space event, we knew that one of the local priorities was Improving Community Facilities and unused land. There was lots of discussion about the Westside Plaza- that it was underused, unwelcoming and felt unsafe. Yet it is the main transport hub for Wester Hailes, the main shopping area, and the place where important local amenities are located. The Trust decided to apply to Scottish Government’s Making Places programme for funding to support a community led plan for the Plaza, to design a civic square for Wester Hailes. We were successful with our application and have worked with HarrisonStevens Landscape Architects to create a community design plan detailing the changes the community would like to see happen to improve the square.
Community Design Plan
The completed report which details plans of how the square located at the front of Westside Plaza could be come a truly civic place includes a community green space, a market area and an outdoor performance area outside Wester Hailes library.
The report has been created using feedback received over several months of community consultation where the Wester Hailes Community Trust and Harrison Stevens asked local service users, young people, local groups and businesses what changes they would like to see to make the square into a civic space they would like to spend time in.
We hope that the project report will be used as a plan for future developments at the Plaza and that it will be used to develop the Locality Improvement Plan. The first construction works will take place in the coming months after the City of Edinburgh Council secured funding to replace the paving.
You can view and download a copy of the full report here:
18017_R_180905_B_181029_WestsidePlaza_ProjectReport_LR