Councillors back ‘placemaking’ principles

OIC councillors have voted to send a delegation of nine people to Poynton in Cheshire, to find out how improvements can be made to the historic heart of Kirkwall.

At a meeting of the development and infrastructure committee on Tuesday, members approved the trip as well as agreeing a number of “placemaking principles” which advocate a multidisciplinary and design-led approach to delivering locally distinctive streets and public areas.

These consider aspects such as street design, layout, and road markings, with the emphasis on projects with “an intelligent response to location rather than the rigid application of standards, regardless of context.”

Last October, councillors and officials took part in a placemaking training event and the Council Plan 2013-18 identifies the need to develop a placemaking strategy.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the committee heard that three projects would initially focus on improvements to the Kirkwall harbour front, the Kirkwall central west area, and the historic town centre.