The City of Edinburgh Council is the only Scottish Local Authority to have made the shortlist for the LGC & HSJ Sustainable Communities Awards 2009.

The Council, together with PARC (Promoting and Regenerating Craigmillar), is up against three English local authorities for the 'Regeneration' award, which will be presented at a prestigious ceremony in London in the New Year.

The shortlisting recognises the achievements and goals of PARC in breathing new life into Craigmillar, one of Edinburgh's most deprived communities.

Created in 2002 as a joint venture between the Council and the EDI Group (an arms-length company of the Council), PARC is now four years into the delivery of a 15-year £200M business plan which will deliver over around 3,000 new homes, two primary schools, a community high school and public library, a 150-acre park, high quality public realm and transport infrastructure, and a refurbished town centre with over 200,000 sq ft of office, retail and leisure space.

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Twenty per cent of the new homes will be quality units at affordable rent for everyone who wishes to remain in the area.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, Chair of PARC, said: "This is a tremendously satisfying recognition for the hard work put in by the community, the Council and PARC for the regeneration of Craigmillar. The PARC project is already delivering real benefits to Craigmillar and making a major contribution to the city by providing much-needed affordable homes. There is no doubt that we face strong competition for this award and we will eagerly anticipate hearing the outcome in February."

John Quinn, PARC's General Manager, said: "We are delighted to be shortlisted for this award. It is a formal recognition of the commitment and good work of all partners, and in particular the City of Edinburgh Council, involved in the long term regeneration of one of Edinburgh's most deprived areas."

A spokesperson for the LGC & HSJ Sustainable Communities Award said: "The level of entries has been exceptional this year, both in terms of quantity and quality. This proves that councils, primary care trusts and their local partners are creating and delivering genuinely sustainable communities.

"We would like to offer our congratulations to all of those entries who have made the shortlist."

The Sustainable Communities Awards 2009, run by the Local Government Chronicle and Health Service Journal in association with DEFRA, will be held at The Brewery in London's Barbican on Thursday 5 February 2009.

(GK)