THE Living Alloa project was one of five winning projects at this year’s SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration.

The initiative is a collaboration between Clackmannanshire Council, Alloa First BID and Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface and has played a fundamental role in redeveloping parts of Alloa.

Living Alloa lifted the Improving Scotland’s Places award, recognised for their commitment to addressing challenges facing the town centre and for their work to make change within it.

The project received their commendation at the 24th annual SURF Award Programme at the Voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on Thursday, December 8.

Council leader Ellen Forson said: “The Living Alloa project is a perfect example of improving Scotland’s places, having transformed a derelict town centre site into a stunning development of 60 flats.

“These comply with Dementia Service Development Centre guidelines and achieve the highest level of dementia friendly accreditation.

“The vacant former public toilet has been converted into an active travel and town centre hub and the project has also delivered a package of streetscape projects that help make Alloa safer, more attractive and easier to move around in.

“My congratulations go to everyone involved in this multi-award winning project and I look forward to exploring and developing further partnership opportunities to improve communities across Clackmannanshire.”

Living Alloa joined four other community projects from across Scotland to receive an award at the SURF Awards.

The winners were selected by a panel of 20 independent judges who visited 15 different shortlisted initiatives before deciding on their winners.

Brian MacDonald, chair of SURF, said he was thrilled with the passion that each entrant brought to their communities.

He said: “The SURF Awards were established with the aim of recognising the inspirational groups and organisations who enrich lives through community regeneration initiatives.

“Past winners have emphasised that their recognition, through the Awards, has helped cement achievements within their communities and has acted as a catalyst for regeneration efforts elsewhere.

“I offer my congratulations and thank those involved in community regeneration initiatives throughout Scotland.”