Transforming City Centres: The Role of the Scottish Cities Alliance 

Scotland’s eight city centres are at the heart of economic growth, serving as urban hubs for business activity and playing a crucial role in supporting Scotland’s economy, culture and communities. The Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted our city centres, and led to the Scottish Government and cities forming a Taskforce in 2021, to ensure there was a focused response to support both their recovery from the pandemic and their future resilience from economic shocks including climate and technological change.

With a focus on 7 strategic objectives, the Alliance continues to support the Scottish Government and cities to work collaboratively to ensure that in a rapidly changing world, Scotland’s city centres adapt to new realities. Our work focuses on reimagining these spaces to enhance liveability, boost local economies, and create environments that attract residents, businesses and visitors alike. Through sharing innovative best practice, facilitating collaboration and cross fertilisation between the public, private and academic sectors, the Alliance continues to provide a useful forum to rethink our city centres, ensuring they remain the beating heart of Scotland’s urban landscape.