"The [...] social enterprise will unlock and build social capital for its people"

Really? A private company is going to build social capital FOR 'its' people?

Divvv - some misunderstanding here : you can find out what a social enterprise / Community Development Trust is at the Development Trusts Association Scotland website here :
http://www.dtascot.org.uk/content/what-is-a-development-trust

I am sensing a New Urbanist slant to this - is that the case?

Stacey - here's a link to more information, see if this meets your definition of 'new urbanist'! :
http://www.kincluny.co.uk/planning-concept/indicative-masterplan/

"£1000 will be donated by CHAP to a community fund for each house established in the village creating an endowment in excess of £1M"

"It is proposed in the first instance a Park Village Working Group be formed of key stakeholders who are knowledgeable and can enable the new Park Village Development Trust structure to be put in place. The Park Village Working Group
would include representation from CHAP
Homes, Housing Associations, Local Authorities, Aberdeen Foyer, community representatives, local businesses and other interested parties who can contribute to the development phase.
The next phase would involve the Working Group engaging support through a Project Coordinator and possibly a pool of advisors for key elements such as legal, community engagement or renewables. As the build
progresses there would be opportunity to begin to engage potential residents and businesses not reached to date.

The next phase would be to form the Park Village Development Trust as a legal entity so that it may negotiate fully on the endowed assets and be able to process income and expenditure as required. It is at this point the Trust will need to have local residents on the Board and involved in the decision making and governance processes.

...timeline suggests that the Working Group would establish the Trust and provide its
first directors prior to the first formal AGM and election of a board by the Trust members. This approach would maximise momentum. An alternative approach would be for the Working
Group not to formally constitute the Trust until there were sufficient residents to take part in an initial election for Board members. This might be left for decision until nearer the time in the
light of progress and developments."

So still a lot to be decided then?

In the examples given:

"The Isle of Gigha is owned by the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust which purchased the island in a community buy-out in 2002 for nearly £4 million and set out to tackle the island’s problems, especially depopulation."

"Led by local people from its beginnings in the early 1990s, Cordale Housing Association has, with Government investment, built or modernised more than 400 homes in Renton..."

"The Comrie Development Trust is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status, owned and controlled by local people with over 600 members..."

Richard

All the examples quoted seem to have been community driven; will the way in which this project is being approached create a different dynamic?



"BRAG Enterprises Ltd (Benarty Regeneration Action Group) was originally established in 1988 by the people of Benarty in response to the
coal industry closures to assist in addressing the subsequent high levels of unemployment prevalent in the area."

Cathy - The short answer is I don't know any more about this project than anyone else! It doesn't look comparable to Gigha or Eigg as it's driven by a private housing developer. However, working closely with a Trust from the start suggests there is more of a commitment to creating a community, rather than just a housing estate. It really depends on the purpose of the Trust and its remit. The Comrie example is useful - it's emerged at an existing settlement which is largely in private ownership but it's delivering long term benefits for the community.
We need to stop thinking of the 'community' as only those in social need. Everyone living and working in a town is part of the community. Trusts are leading the way in enabling people to play a greater role in the future of their communities and that has to be a good thing.

Thanks for info and links Richard- I still think its a bit of a strange concept however that anyone can build or creating social capital. In my mind its a bottom-up thing that, 'just happens' in certain circumstances. (Maybe Im splitting hairs but it just stood out for me.)

Very nice drawing