Approaches to waterfront regeneration within a common regulatory framework in Scotland: The experiences of Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh

Waterfront regeneration is a particular form of urban regeneration with specific features such as the relationship of these areas to port restructuring, the scale of these projects, the complexity of the regeneration process involving a variety of organisations, and the central and ‘edge’ condition of these areas. This research presents an initial analysis of three main cities in the Central Belt of Scotland – Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh – which have experienced a variety of processes in the regeneration of waterfront areas, although within a common regulatory, economic and political context. The research is presented as an opportunity to understand the waterfront development models that are emerging in Scotland and contributes to furthering comparative research in waterfront regeneration experiences. In particular, and given the common regulatory background for these case studies, in the longer term the research aims to add to the analysis of the role of power and policy networks around waterfront regeneration. The research builds on a Knowledge Exchange programme which sought to establish a learning network involving academia, public sector and private sector to explore the potential of waterfront regeneration to contribute to the socially, economically and environmentally sustainable development of Scotland, which has set the agenda for this ongoing research programme.