The regeneration of the Dawson area has picked up a top national award for the work undertaken to reverse the long term decline of the Langlees and Bainsford areas.

Falkirk Council scooped the top award in the Chartered Institute of Housing/Scottish Government ‘Building Successful Communities – the Excellence in Regeneration Award announced today at the CIH conference in Glasgow.

The regeneration project to transform the Dawson area got underway ten years ago. New housing for social rent and sale has had a dramatic effect on the physical look of the community – the last two housing developments are now complete and represent the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle of bricks and mortar regeneration work.

Stuart Ritchie, Director of Corporate and Neighbourhood Services said: "We’re delighted to be recognised at a national level for our work in the Dawson area.

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"Our comprehensive programme of regeneration aimed to keep the best traditions of the community and its environment together while at the same time increasing opportunities for residents.

"Throughout the process, housing has been a key element of the physical transformation with the demolition of hard to let properties to make way for new, affordable housing. The remaining housing stock has also seen a substantial programme of investment in the last few years."

Regeneration work undertaken over the last ten years includes:

• The demolition of 15 blocks of poor quality flats and other buildings to make way of more suitable and a more attractive mix of housing

• New private housing developments together with areas of affordable and low cost housing

• Blocks of low-demand flats converted to other uses – NHS Dental Hospital, Family Support Centre and an Internet Café

• A new Community Campus created in the heart of the community with a childcare centre and fitness facility

• The Dawson Regeneration Group made up of community representatives who have been involved in every element of the regeneration work

• HEROS (Housing Regeneration Outcome Squads), an employment and training programme designed to encourage local people to improve their local environment. Sixteen of the HEROS have now been taken on as apprentices by Falkirk Council.

The Dawson Regeneration project received a Local Government Chronicle commendation in 2007 for its regeneration work. Since that date Falkirk Council’s first phase of New Build projects have come to fruition to complete the original regeneration programme.

(GK)