Town Gateways Projects
Business Centre Development
Town Gateways Project
Town Gateways is a community-led project that aims to create up to six new entry-points to Carluke. Carluke Development Trust is facilitating this exciting creative development and has organised a public consultation, two design workshops and three public art workshops with Lanarkshire artists Keith Donnelly, Susheila Jamieson and Alan Potter in 2007. Last public art workshop with artist Russell Lamb is due to take place in January 2008. Please contact the Trust for date and venue confirmation.
The initial stage of the project was funded by Leader+ Rural Heritage Grant and SLC Art Development supported all public art workshops. Town Gateways design group includes members of the public and representatives of Universal Connections/Street Level, Carluke Traders, Carluke Community Council, Rotary Club, Carluke Historical Society, Day Centre for the Elderly and Gala Day Committee.
A main strategy idea was agreed during workshops - each gateway could represent one part of Carluke's history including present time and future, a storyboard of Carluke. It became clear that the proposed gateways were likely to be pieces of public art with landscaping features.
 It is apparent that Carluke's cultural heritage will be reflected in the overall look of each gateway. The group agreed that the following heritage aspects of the five proposed gateways should in some way appear in the final design: jam making (jam jars), mining (miners' lamp), brickworks (use of locally made bricks), chocolate, cylinders, Victoria Crosses awarded to local residents in the past, Carluke coat of arms, High Mill and other major local structures.
The next stage of the project will be to appoint a lead artist who will work with the group on creating town gateways final design. We are hoping that South Lanarkshire Council Greenspace will further support the project in-kind by providing a qualified and experienced landscape architect (Hamish Neilson) to assist with the final design.
The on-going public consultation is an opportunity to discuss ideas for creating better, more attractive Gateways or entry points to Carluke. We need your creative and practical ideas for the planning, design and building stages. If you would like to get involved in this exciting project contact the Trust.
Read an article about plans for Town Gateways here and our public consultation here.
Please come and help us design something that Carluke can be proud of!
Business Centre Development
Carluke Development Trust is delighted to announce that it has received £9,800 from the Big Lottery Investing in Ideas fund. The Trust is also grateful to South Lanarkshire Council Business Support Programme for their financial support of this project. The funds will cover the cost on an in-depth feasibility study.
We have been exploring the possibility of building a modern Business Centre for the past two years. One of the Trust's main aims is to achieve long-term sustainability for the Trust and community development while creating entreprising opportunities, services and amenities for the local community. The Trust has been actively exploring the possibility of a modern business/information Centre in the heart of Carluke to achieve this aim. The proposed multi-user incubator space will contribute to the economic success of the town while the revenue generated from unit lets will help CDT to achieve planned long-term sustainability. The Trust is eager for the Business Centre to become a community hub by encouraging development of business skills and strengths and offering financially sustainable and easily accessible services training facilities and amenities for local entrepreneurs, residents and various community groups.
Research, consultation and delivery of a market and initial financial feasibility study for the proposed Carluke Business Centre were completed last year. It has become increasingly clear that the lack of modern, suitable and accessible premises has had an adverse effect on development of business opportunities, skills and knowledge of Carluke residents.
An In-depth Feasibility Study will help the Trust to determine plan layout options; need for on site support services and communication solutions; cost of recoverability of support services; design flexibility to facilitate as wide a range of potential users as possible; identify feasible energy conscious design, renewable energy and energy efficiency possibilities; budget costs; cash flow projections to meet business plan objectives; capital costs funding package; procurement route and demand analysis update. With this highly specialist facts and knowledge the Trust will be able to take into consideration all issues necessary to design a project that enhances enterprising opportunities, services and amenities for the local community while taking into account environmental impact of the building.
Carluke Development Trust will be working with representatives of Clydesdale Housing Association and South Lanarkshire Council to create a brief for professional consultants and to oversee the entire feasibility study process.
Once the in-depth feasibility study is completed the Trust can start applying for funds for the Centre delivery. If successful such business centre would not only be a valuable asset for the Carluke community but it would also secure the Trust's with long-term sustainability from unit lets. This would mean continuous community development, events, projects and improvements for everyone in Carluke.
For more information about this project please contact the Trust.
 
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