Our Arbroath regeneration team revealed as town prepares to get to work on £20m plan
Our Arbroath’s £20 million transformation journey has moved into the next phase with the appointment of three key figures to drive forward the 10-year vision.
Fiona Marshall has been appointed regeneration officer lead of the community-led town board. She brings more than 30 years of leadership experience to the vital role. Lucy Nicholl takes up the role of deputy and Lauren Simpson is joining as regeneration support officer. Our Arbroath announced the appointments on Wednesday.
At the same time, the town board revealed three initial projects it will focus on and issued a fresh call to locals to play their part. Old and Abbey Church and the town’s empty community centre are part of those plans.
Fiona’s private sector experience includes roles as CEO, managing director and chair. She currently runs her own consultancy, Klarean Limited, from her Angus home.
Fiona said: “Arbroath has everything it needs to transform itself – a passionate community and a clear vision thanks to the input of the town into what they want to see delivered from the funding.
“As regeneration officers, our job is to make sure the £20m works as hard as it can, to deliver lasting change for the people who live and work here.”
Lucy Nicholl runs Nicholl HR, a consultancy supporting businesses across Scotland. She has previously worked as operations manager for a social enterprise tackling food poverty, clothing poverty and social isolation. And Lauren Simpson has more than a decade of experience in the third sector. She has specialised in community partnership work, sport for change programmes and wellbeing initiatives.
Town board chairman Peter Stirling said: “Appointing these roles is a pivotal moment. We received an incredibly strong number of applications, and as a result have been able to put a team in place with the skillset to really drive forward impactful work.
“Fiona, Lucy and Lauren bring real ability and genuine commitment to Arbroath. The town board will continue to work in close partnership with Angus Council who will provide oversight and support on the delivery of the ‘Pride in Place Plan’.”
Meanwhile, three initial projects have been identified for the regeneration team to drive forward.
Old and Abbey Church is already a lifeline for local charities and community groups, including a food bank. It will be looked at to establish how it can be developed into a fully functioning charities hub. The aim is to maximise its reach and impact for as many organisations as possible.
Arbroath’s closed-down community centre is another target in partnership with Arbroath Football Club Community Trust. The hope is to return the Marketgate building to its previously popular role as a sports and events venue. At the same time, there will be a focus on income-generating activity such as indoor car boot sales and hall lettings. The community centre was handed back to Angus Council in 2023 by leisure trust Angus Alive. Hopes of a private deal to bring it back into use fell through last year.
Town centre regeneration is also a priority focus. Street lighting improvements and a town mural trail are among the first initiatives set to be discussed with businesses and other organisations.
Mr Stirling added: “The three first-year projects we are focusing on will start to show people what this regeneration fund can do for our town.”
The £20m Plan for Neighbourhoods fund will be drawn down over 10 years.
The board has now begun its next search for volunteers to join project sub-groups. No specific background or experience is required. Anyone with time, enthusiasm and keen to help shape Arbroath’s future is encouraged to get involved. Anyone interested in joining a sub-group or volunteering should visit www.ourarbroath.com.
This article appeared in the Courier on 20 May 2026