CASE STUDY: NEW DEER COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN

Buchan Development Partnership worked with the community of New Deer on a comprehensive consultation exercise using Planning for Real® in 2007 and an Action Plan was produced. Priorities were identified - eg improvements to the village hall and play area, traffic calming measures and progressing the provision and development of land for affordable housing. These were subsequently included in the Buchan Community Plan.

Since then, various groups in the village progressed the different priorities - eg a group established to lead the successful campaign to save banking facilities in the village took forward the affordable housing issue and successfully lobbied for land to be developed. The Hall and Play Area projects attracted substantial funding. (An added outcome to this work has resulted in the Hall hosting professional touring theatre shows). The Community Association took forward the traffic calming issue which is finally being resolved in 2012.

This systematic approach means that the community has a clear idea of their needs and aspirations. The role of the Rural Partnership continues after the plan is printed - helping them address their priorities in a variety of ways eg linking them with the relevant partners or helping identify and apply for funding.