The Scarborough Renaissance Partnership pioneers the regeneration of Scarborough

Over the past 30 years, Scarborough has suffered from a wide range of economic and social problems resulting from the dual decline of domestic tourism and the fishing industry. Among other things, the town suffered from high, and specifically seasonal, unemployment, an ageing population and ongoing youth and graduate brain-drain. More than this, there was a spiralling lack of confidence in the towns’ future amongst its residents.

In 2002 Scarborough was named an Urban Renaissance Town and a Community Planning Weekend was organised, this proved to be the vital first step on the road to reversing the area’s fortunes. Attendance at the first meeting was overwhelming, with over 1,000 people from all parts of the community attending to see what they could do to be part of the solution to decades of stagnation and inertia. The event acted as a rallying cry to the community to take the opportunity to transform Scarborough for the better.

The Scarborough Renaissance Partnership was born that weekend and, with purposeful lead from the local authority, it has effectively pioneered the renaissance and regeneration of Scarborough over the past six years. Firmly rooted in the community need and involvement, the Partnership has continued to keep community at its core through monthly public meetings, Action Groups and the involvement of local people on every committee and executive.

It has already been instrumental in transforming the social and economic prospects of the area. For example Scarborough has previously suffered from serious seasonal unemployment during the winter months, as much as 50 per cent in some areas. However, over the winter 2007-8 unemployment with central Scarborough has shown no significant seasonal change. In fact, the Partnership has already created 100 permanent direct jobs and a further 2,000 indirect jobs, credited partly to their activity, should be created by the end of 2008.

Over £30 million publicly funded projects have been delivered in the last two years, leading to £200 million worth of private sector investment. Some of the flagship projects which are helping to transform the local environment include the development of a marina, refurbishment of the spa complex and the new business park, which is expected to generate 2,000 new jobs in the next five to ten years.

To bolster this economic regeneration The Scarborough Renaissance Partnership has been instrumental in encouraging a cultural rebirth. Whilst the area has always had a strong cultural and creative tradition, the creative sector had become uncoordinated and lacked direction. The Partnership created a support network, renovated the Rotunda Museum and built the Woodend Creative Workspace. This workspace is a £5 million development to encourage and support the growth of creative industries, it was completed in April 2008 and already had seventy per cent of its lettable space pre-let, reflecting the demand within the sector for this dedicated centre.

There is little doubt that the face of Scarborough has been radically transformed by the Renaissance Partnership. However, the momentum produced through the first six years shows no signs of slowing and should continue into the future. The vision of both the Renaissance Partnership and the Local Authority is to achieve total renaissance of Scarborough by 2020.

The Scarborough Renaissance Partnership was the national winner of the 2008 Enterprising Britain competition ans the regional winner for Yorkshire and Humberside.

Scarborough update - May 2009

The reigning champion of the Enterprising Britain competition, Scarborough, is celebrating again after being named the most enterprising place in Europe at this year’s European Enterprise Awards. Run by the European Commission, the Awards saw Scarborough take both the Grand Jury Prize, making it the overall winner, and the Entrepreneurship Promotion category, which recognises creative ways of encouraging people to become entrepreneurs.

The seaside town was up against the best of European enterprise, including Finland’s capital city, Helsinki; Spain’s second biggest port, Valencia; and Liege in Belgium, known for its beer, chocolate and water exports. Despite its population of just 50,000 – tiny in comparison to its competitors – Scarborough’s work to encourage people to start-up and grow businesses and create jobs saw it awarded the top prize at a gala dinner in Prague’s Zofin Palace.

Congratulations Scarborough!