Executive Summary - Argyll and Bute Council

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Oban Action PlanEXECUTIVE SUMMARYDeveloping Oban as the Capital of the Western Highlands and IslandsAn t-Oban, tprìomh-bhaile na Gàidhealtachd an Iar is nan EileanOban forms the gateway to the Western Isles is a major growth centre within Argyll and Bute and has a key role to playin generating new economic activity in the Western Highlands and Islands.Oban has in recent years experienced significant growth. Developments such as the Scottish Association of MarineSciences (SAMS), the new Ferry Terminal and Linkspan, major retail developments and District General Hospital allsupport Oban’s re-classification as an urban centre.The Action Plan for Oban sets a strategic framework complementary to the Argyll and Bute Development Plan tosupport growth and enhance the quality of place and sustainable performance of Oban as the regional capital of theWestern Highlands and the Islands.The Argyll & Bute Structure Plan predicts population growth of 1% per annum (979 persons) for Lorn & The Inner Islesby 2012 set against a Argyll and Bute decline of 1.5%. Urban growth has exacerbated land and infrastructure capacityissues with the town now suffering from utility capacity constraints, seasonal town centre traffic congestion, a shortageof affordable housing and constrained land supply.Action Plan to Support and Deliver GrowthIronsideFarrarThe aim of the Oban Action Plan is to guide the delivery of proposals for Oban complimentary to the emerging Argyll &Bute Local Plan in a way that will:articulate the vision for the growth of Oban to allow it to fulfil its role as the regional centre for the WestHighlands and the Islands.review the key infrastructural constraints in Oban (road access, water and drainage) and identify a programme andmechanisms for delivery of new and/or improved infrastructure to facilitate developmentidentify the opportunities and infrastructural constraints for early development in the Dunstaffnage-Connelcorridoridentify and define a series of development projects for Oban’s five Areas for Action: South Pier/ Railway Pier;George Street/ North Pier; Esplanade; Oban Bay; and Oban Airportidentify the appropriate vehicle for the management of Oban HarbouriExecutive Summary
Oban Action PlanConsultationsThe study has been progressed in close consultation with a Client Steering Group formed by members and officers ofArgyll and Bute Council, Argyll and Isles Enterprise and Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) and including regular reportingand presentations to Lorn and the Isles Area Committee members.Consultations have included local interests covering business, civic and special interest groups along with the police,harbour/ pier authorities, Scottish Executive, and statutory agencies and various departments of Argyll and ButeCouncil. A day and evening Consultation Forum was held in the Corran Halls to allow wider stakeholders theopportunity to participate and discuss individual interests and requirements.Key Issues, Opportunities and ChallengesThe strategic partnership comprises Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll and the Islands Enterprise together with keydevelopment partners and stakeholders including CalMac/ Health Board/ Education Sector / Local Economic Forum/Community Planning Forum/ Private Sector. Key issues for the Action Plan include:the need to focus on economic growth that can help add value and extend opportunity for sustainabledevelopment both for Oban and associated hinterland in Lorn and The Isles.Executive Summarythe scale of potential projects and funding is very substantially beyond current capital programmes and eitheradditional new funding needs to be found or project priorities will need to be tightly definedthe scale of development pressures relative to Oban’s size (population/ services/ community infrastructure/economy, etc) requires clear priorities if the Action Plan is to compete with other demands within Argyll and Butethe need to support the delivery of the Development Plan addressing the key constraints and opportunities forgrowth and urban developmentThe Development Plan and both Argyll and Bute Council and Argyll and the Islands Enterprise recognise opportunitiesand constraints to growth. The scale of the required infrastructure (transport/ roads utilities/ harbour/ place building)requires substantial investment and choices are inevitable to determine priorities.Clarifying a Shared VisionOur Vision:We will promote and secure a dynamic, economically sustainable role for Oban building on the quality of place andfulfilling its key function as the capital of the Western Highlands and Islands.iiIronsideFarrar
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Executive Summary - Argyll and Bute Council

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