DOUGLAS WHEELER ASSOCIATES

Douglas Wheeler Associates (DWA) was established in 2003 to specialise in designing and delivering strategies that regenerate places. Today, the global economic downturn, the state of the public finances, uncertainty around future funding and priorities mean that single use property driven area regeneration strategies that were characteristic of the last decade have all but disappeared. The new focus is on delivery of local regeneration projects that mix uses and activities, provide loose fit flexible spaces that adapt existing town centre buildings and are being driven by local community networks, including community development and charitable trusts. This focus chimes well with what has always been distinctive about DWA. That is the conscious move from a narrow 'bricks and mortar' approach to local regeneration, to one that is driven by a combination of community driven economic development, mixed use, culture, sport, urban design and sustainability as well as physical objectives and a focus on new sectors like digital media and low carbon technology. Doug Wheeler has over thirty years experience in area regeneration, economic and development planning in the United Kingdom and Ireland advising clients in the public, private and third sectors. He uses this experience and his recently published research undertaken for the Scottish Government on mixed use development and town centre regeneration to take a longer view of regeneration. It is essential to 'learning from the future' and about how to adapt to the tougher economic challenges we are facing. Successful regeneration interventions require change and this can be challenging for clients, participants and practioners. DWA services, methodologies and consultation tools are tailored to the needs of today's client groups and particular locations. The emphasis is very much on working collaboratively with clients and partners and using community visioning, design charrettes, programme design and project development expertise to turn strategies into tangible improvements to places. DWA working with A-S:L is one of the four teams of contractors appointed by the Scottish Government Directorate for the Built Environment to deliver locally driven design charrettes in Scotland. Doug is also an expert advisor to the Heritage Lottery Fund on Townscape Heritage Initiatives and included in the 2008-2013 HLF Register of Support Services (RoSS). Doug also has extensive experience of best practice in place regeneration in the United Kingdom, Europe and North America and has undertaken and led a number of study visits. Doug Wheeler can be contacted at: telephone: 01505 871975 mobile: 07831 221516