Riverside Development in Glasgow - Breathing Life Back into the Clyde
SOURCE: PROPERTY EXECUTIVE, FEBRUARY 2006
The flurry of investment buyers which have descended upon residential developments at Glasgow’s Clydeside and the resultant high prices and “to let” signs might lead the casual observer to believe that this is just another development bubble that will burst. There is evidence along the riverside of previous attempts at gentrification, which have simply not had the scale or scope to make a wide impact. This time, however, Glasgow is determined to succeed in breathing life back into the Clyde and talk of a “renaissance” on the banks of the River Clyde is not only accurate, but sustainable.
The regeneration of Glasgow’s Clydeside is a national flagship riverside project which compares with anything else of its type in Europe. Around 300 hectares of land stand to be revitalised although, as we all know from the Scottish experience with new towns, size is nothing without appropriate planning.
Big business and the public sector have combined to plan an environment with a true sense of place in which people will want to live, work and play. This is not intended to be a gated community, on the contrary, this development seeks to bring the city down to the river. Quality of infrastructure has been a primary concern with extensive footpaths, lighting and seating provided as well as planned road improvements. At Clydeport’s flagship Glasgow Harbour development, public realm areas are intended to comprise around 40% of the total site and include public art, landscaped walkways and several public squares.
So much for the river being a pleasant area for a stroll, you might say, but what is there to draw people there? The Clydeside has been designed as a fully integrated project, the commercial, retail and leisure sector are all well represented in the offices, shops, hotels, bars and restaurants beginning to populate the area. The proposed redevelopment of Custom House Quay hopes to extend Glasgow’s retail centre, Buchanan Street, down to the river, bringing Glaswegians to the north bank area. Quirky developments such as a new indoor ski centre at the Braehead Centre stretch out of the city ensuring that there is continuity of interest.
Tradeston is also getting in on the act with a large scale planning application currently under consideration for three city blocks of mixed use development on the riverfront with an estimated value of around £350M, not to mention the controversial Tradeston bridge on which construction will start in December of this year.
Sending the Clydeside a further leap ahead of the competition are the world class cultural improvements, which will attract tourists from far and wide. Already boasting the Science Centre, SECC and IMAX cinema, the Clydeside will also welcome the new BBC headquarters, the new SMG building, the riverside museum, casinos and more. The museum in particular will be a landmark development replacing the current Museum of Transport and fittingly drawing people back to the last time the River Clyde represented so much economic and social importance for Glasgow.
The river itself is, of course, the hub of this project, adding a distinctive flavour to the cocktail of development. Since becoming established in May 2004, the Broomielaw pontoon has logged 58 boat visits from as far as Canada, and there are plans to make still more of the river accessible, promoting tourism and access to the water. While in the time of heavy industry, a day by the river might have been a laughable concept, the transformation of use has been reflected in the quality of the water and the variety of wildlife returning to the waterway. The River Clyde is ready for a second golden age.
AUTHOR: ELSPETH CARSON