A preliminary physical appraisal was carried out by the District Council in 1986 as a basis for discussion and following this S.D.A. approval was obtained on the funding of the scheme. The S.D.A.'s consultants were appointed in April of last year to co-ordinate the project on the ground, explain the project to owners etc. and to report back on the degree of response and costings. In parallel, and as is normal in these cases, a Property Improvement Trust was then formed to administer the work described above, to hold funds for that purpose in advance of the work and to disburse these funds to contractors for work done on issue of architects certificates. This overcomes the practical problems of:- (a) Ensuring that all private owners have contributed their share in advance of the work proceeding to avoid subsequent difficulties in payments due; (b) The Scottish Development Agency possibly finding itself in a position of being unable to recover monies from defaulting contributories. The 'Facelift' is being run as a series of contracts identified first of all in terms of physical need and secondly on the degree of willingness to participate. The first phase of Quarry Street has been completed in 9 weeks and the first phase of Cadzow Street is underway. Grants have also assisted with the refurbishment of Brandon Tower. It is hoped that the impact that completed works will make will influence those who indicated unwillingness to take part, to 'throw in their lot'. Undoubtedly, however, there will be some who cannot or will not take part. These owners would be asked for permission for the work to go ahead on their property, and the costs could either be shared out among other owners or taken up by the Agency. The District Council will be temporarily assigning a Clerk of Works to oversee the work on a part-time basis but offering full Clerk of Works services. Further, as several of the properties within the scheme are listed, the Scottish Development Department's Historic Buildings Investigator has been advised in order to assist the passage of Listed Building Consents. An additional benefit to be derived from the scheme, as well as direct enhancement to frontages, will be the removal of advertising signs above fascia level thereby obviating time-consuming and cumbersome enforcement procedures. Doubtless, other organisational and physical problems will arise, but early indications are of success in improving the townscape of the centre area of Hamilton, as well as enhancing its economic prospects - an example of conservation principles applied with public/private co-operation to the total planning process. H. Stuart Stevenson Senior Planner (Implementation) Hamilton District Council Oakshaw Scheme of Improvement Background The Oakshaw Scheme of Enhancement is a conservation based joint initiative being promoted by Renfrew District and Strathclyde Regional Councils for the renewal of the Oakshaw area of Paisley. Lying in very clsoe proximity to Paisley Town Centre and comprising part of The Cross and Oakshaw Outstanding Conservation Area, the development of this area dates from the 15th century when Paisley began its expansion from a cluster of buildings around the Abbey and the Cross. This medieval street pattern is still apparent in Oakshaw although! the buildings there today were built mainly between 1745 and 1902, in the Georgian and Victorian eras. It contains buildings designed by Scotland's leading architects of that period. The hill top location of Oakshaw is highlighted by the domes, towers and spires of the fine civic and ecclesiastical buildings which dominate the Paisley skyline and the potential environmental quality of the area is reflected in the number of Listed Buildings in this small area-5 Category 'A', 20 Category 'B', and 13 Category 'C'. In common with many inner urban areas throughout Scotlana, however, the area has for the past 30 or so years been in decline with an under-investment in the fabric and a consequential increase in the number of gap sites and derelict buildings. This process of decline has been exacerbated by vandalism and an absence of any overall strategy and associated funding to combat the problems. The need for action is identified in both the District Council's local plan for the area and the Strathclyde Structure Plan which recognises Oakshaw as one of five outstanding Conservation Areas in the Region requiring attention because of the poor overall condition. The Scheme and Its Implementation The enhancement scheme was approved by both Councils in July 1987 following interim proposals approved by the District Council a year earlier and "hich formed the basis for consultation with local residents. amenity groups and other appropriate agencies. It sets out a comprehemi, e range of proposals aimed at:- (a) stimulating investment in the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing buildings, and new development where appropriate; (b) finding alternative uses for the vacant or redundant buildings; (c) consolidating and increasing the area's residential base; (d) improving derelict land through development or landscaping works; (e) preventing through traffic using the area; (f) finding alternative locations for Town Centre car parking; (g) improving townscape features and street furniture; and (h) ensuring minor improvement/maintenance works are done to an appropriate standard of design. 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