The Pre-Application Consultation for Galashiels Community Campus has just been launched, on behalf of Scottish Borders Council, through the launch of a virtual consultation space.

jmarchitects worked with Oasis and Turner & Townsend to create an engaging, interactive space which aims to recreate the look and feel of a traditional community hall setting. This virtual format was tested during an informal community consultation earlier in the year with really positive results! Over 1400 unique visits to the site suggested it is a format which is able to reach a wider audience than a traditional physical consultation.

This virtual space will be complimented with an unstaffed physical exhibition of the design information within the Galashiels Transport Interchange, as well as two live ‘meet the project team’ online meetings where the community can join and ask members of the project team any further questions they may have. All of these opportunities to comment on the project proposals have been widely advertised through the local press and social media channels to maximise the exposure of the project.

The Covid pandemic has forced us to adapt and change the way we work, and the development of this online consultation space has been a positive example of collaboration and exploring different ways of working. Although there will always be a place for face-to-face meetings, we are seeing the real benefit of providing an online space that engages with the local community.

Credit: Doug Tullie, jmarchitects Edinburgh