Town
centre regeneration urban design
steppDESIGN - Glasgow Stepps up design quality
Glasgow’s reputation as a city at the cutting edge of
creativity has been boosted by the relocation of one of the UK’s
fastest growing urban design firms.
steppDESIGN was set up in London last year by David Chapman and
Scott Elliott Adams. The company has now chosen Glasgow as their
new home and European headquarters.
Specialists in urban design and regeneration, the consultancy
focuses on town centre regeneration, neighbourhood and
residential development.
steppDESIGN aims to employ 30 highly skilled graduates in the
city within three years and is being supported in their move by
a substantial Regional Selective Assistance grant, Scottish
Enterprise Glasgow and Scottish Development International.
The partners have worked extensively over the last year to
secure a private sector led funding package that will allow the
firm to establish Glasgow as a centre for urban excellence.
According to the co-founder David Chapman, Glasgow has a pool of
some of the best urban design, planning and architecture skills
in the UK.
“Hundreds of millions of pounds are being spent on
regeneration in Scotland alone at the moment along the Clyde
waterfront, Glasgow’s east end and the renewal and improvement
of the city’s housing stock. So from an urban design point of
view, it is a boom town and has the skill base to service this
growth and wider European and worldwide markets.”
“The city’s universities are producing some of the most talented
people working in this sector and combined with its great
location for our target market and its vibrant creative
atmosphere it was an easy decision to make to come to Glasgow.”
The company has already been appointed by private sector
clients, the Commission of Architecture and the Built
Environment, the Scottish Executive, Architecture + Design
Scotland and the Improvement Service on a variety of projects.
At present they are short listed for urban regeneration projects
in Scotland, England, the US and China.
SE Glasgow’s director of growing business, Debbie Mackie said:
“Performing arts, design, music, television production and
other creative industries is one of the city’s fastest growing
employment sectors. With developments like Pacific Quay and the
Merchant City coming on stream we have the capacity to offer
these types of companies an unrivalled working environment.
“Urban design is becoming a discipline in its own right but has
been low profile in Glasgow until now. This decision by
steppDESIGN will ensure some of the city’s best graduates
qualifying in this discipline don’t have to go elsewhere to
pursue their chosen career.”
Email:
craig.cowbrough@scotent.co.uk