10.103 Greater Pollok is located in the south-west of Glasgow approximately five miles from the City Centre. The area is bounded by the White Cart Water to the north, the M77 and Pollok Park to the east and the Green Belt and City boundary with Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire Councils to the south and west. It is well connected with the City by road via the M77 and also has rail links to the City Centre.

10.104 Greater Pollok developed gradually from the 1920s, the pace of change increasing in the post-war period when the Council built large numbers of new houses in the area. The population is now around 43,000, down from its 1970s peak of 76,000. Consequently, the demand for Council housing has declined, a trend reinforced by the unattractive nature of some of the stock and a lack of supporting infrastructure. Greater Pollok suffers from social, health and economic problems, similar to other peripheral housing estates in Glasgow.

10.105 A transformation is under way in many parts of Greater Pollok. The area was one of the first districts in Glasgow to attract investment from private housebuilders and now accommodates over 4,000 privately owned homes. Community-based housing associations have been active in the regeneration process and now own much of the housing for rent-stock. Regeneration is not limited to housing renewal and significant investment is being made in retailing and secondary schools and the development of a forest park. The area has also benefited from the upgrading of the semi-rural quality of much of the open space and river valleys. The proximity of the M77 should help to attract further commercial and industrial investment to Greater Pollok.

10.106 In response to issues of deprivation, poverty and unemployment the Scottish Executive designated Greater Pollok a Social Inclusion Partnership Area (SIP) in 1999.