10.33 The Council will prepare a Local Development Strategy to address the complexity of issues within the New Neighbourhood and the Forth and Clyde Canal Corridor and to co-ordinate projects and investment.
Maryhill Locks
10.34 The Local Development Strategy will address the following key issues:
population increase;
housing choice;
employment creation;
development of vacant land;
improved infrastructure; and
regeneration of the Canal corridor.
10.35 Elsewhere in Glasgow North, other, more specific planning action will be necessary to resolve outstanding land-use issues.
PEOPLE
10.36 The Ruchill/Keppoch (1) New Neighbourhood Regeneration Plan, prepared following a community planning exercise, aims to provide around 1,000 new houses and a range of community facilities. Development Briefs will be prepared for a number of sites within the New Neighbourhood, including Cowlairs/Keppoch (2) and Ruchill Hospital (3).
10.37 As part of the Council’s commitment to respond to any deficit in the housing land supply which might emerge in the period beyond 2006, a Planning Study will be undertaken to assess the development potential and environmental capacity of the Summerston/Balmore area.
10.38 In Milton (4), the clearance of tenemental housing and the demolition of St. Augustine’s Secondary School has created sites with the potential to accommodate new housing and improved outdoor recreation facilities, although access to the area needs to be addressed. The Council will prepare a Planning Study to consider how best to resolve these access issues and realise Milton’s development potential. In Blackhill (5), all the tenemental housing has been cleared and around 100 houses for rent and the first owner-occupied houses in the area are being provided. The remainder of the site offers an opportunity to extend the owner-occupied market. A Development Brief will guide this process.
10.39 The Council, in partnership with the local community, will also prepare Development Briefs for sites at Maryhill Locks (6) and the former pitches at Clouston Street (7). Both of these have potential for new housing and leisure development. Development Briefs, aimed at securing quality developments appropriate to local needs, will be prepared for a number of other smaller sites within the area that have potential for residential development.
JOBS
10.40 Glasgow North retains a good supply of land for business and industry. The former Cowlairs (8), Atlas (9) and St. Rollox (10) railway works are now largely occupied by smaller scale business, industrial and commercial enterprises. There remains a need, however, to improve the availability and quality of business and industrial premises throughout the area to encourage local business expansion and attract new employers to Glasgow North. As a result, Glasgow North has been designated a Core Economic Development Area.
10.41 Robroyston (North), comprising the 5ha Single User Site and Robroyston Business Park (12), together with the Provan Gasworks site (11) provide the most significant employment creation opportunities. A large single user high amenity industrial and business development site is also available at Robroyston (South) (13). The remainder of Robroyston (North) will be developed as a business park and is serviced and available for immediate development. The Provan Gasworks site is identified as a major renewal site in the Joint Structure Plan (Schedule 1 (b)) and benefits from being located near to the M8 and M80 and the proposed East End Regeneration Route, potentially offering a northern gateway into the City. The Council will work with the owners of the site to prepare a planning study that explores options for redevelopment.
10.42 The attractiveness of the Port Dundas area (14) for industrial and business development could be enhanced by exploiting the leisure and tourist potential of the Canal corridor. The reconnection of the Canal between Spiers Wharf and Port Dundas is being investigated. The area south of North Canalbank Street has the potential to be developed for uses that would aid the revitalisation of the former Canal terminus and capitalise on its proximity to the City Centre. The Local Development Strategy will promote and prioritise the development of sites for industrial, business, commercial and other appropriate uses in Port Dundas and the rest of the Canal corridor.
INFRASTRUCTURE
10.43 Five road corridors intersect Glasgow North - Maryhill Road, Balmore Road/Saracen Street, Springburn Road, Royston Road and the M80. These function primarily to carry traffic from outwith the City to the City Centre, particularly at peak times. There is a need to balance access to local shopping and community facilities with efficient movement of through-traffic. Public transport improvements can assist this process. Funds are in place for the development of a Quality Bus Corridor along Possil Road/Saracen Street/Balmore Road and for improvements to the rail network to serve the communities at Royston/Garngad and Germiston or Robroyston or Millerston. Potential Quality Bus Corridors are being considered in relation to future Public Transport Fund bids for Springburn Road and Royston Road/Robroyston Drive.
Industrial Business Park and Infrastructure
10.44 Eastfield (15), to the west of Springburn Road, may have significant development potential. However, before this can be realised, access and ground condition issues have to be resolved. The Council will prepare a Planning Study for Eastfield with a view to overcoming development constraints. The infrastructure constraints affecting Port Dundas will be examined through the Local Development Strategy.
ENVIRONMENT
10.45 The Local Development Strategy and other planning work will consider the quality of the environment and set a context for the future use of vacant sites that, when developed, would contribute positively towards the image of the area and fulfil its development potential.
10.46 The Council will work in partnership with other agencies in order to enhance and extend the greenspace network and improve pedestrian and cycle access through the area. The Forth and Clyde Canal corridor (16) is a crucial element of the City’s greenspace network as well as being an important recreational resource. Following completion of the Millennium Link project, the Council is preparing a strategy to prioritise the enhancement of the Canal and canal-side sites and highlight opportunities for access improvements.
