10.77 The Council is preparing Local Development Strategies for Oatlands (1) and Tradeston (2) to co-ordinate regeneration projects and investments and resolve major land-use issues. Separate and complementary planning exercises will cover the River Clyde (part of which falls in the South Central area) and the development of the M74 Completion corridor.
10.78 Key issues that the Local Development Strategies and other planning activity will address include:
maximising the economic and minimising the environmental impact of the M74 Completion;
improving accessibility;
developing vacant land;
increasing population;
enhancing the southern approach to the City Centre; and
re-establishing the traditional street pattern.
PEOPLE
10.79 Developments by housing associations and the private sector have already made a significant impact at Crown Street (3) and Hutchesontown (4) and proposals for Queen Elizabeth Square (5) are at an advanced stage. There is also the potential to increase housing choice by developing vacant land in Oatlands (1), Tradeston (2), Bedford Street (6), Cathcart Road (7), Oxford Street (8) and Bridge Street (9). Options for the renewal of North Toryglen (10) remain a priority within the context of its SIP status. Opportunities also exist for the conversion of former commercial property in Tradeston. The Local Development Strategies will mirror existing strategies and facilitate co-ordinated investment in housing and related infrastructure. In addition, the Council will prepare Development Briefs for the above sites.
JOBS
10.80 Small business parks, providing substantial additional floorspace, have been constructed in the Gorbals East Renewal Area (11) and in the railway arches in Hutchesontown (12). There is potential to increase the business space in Tradeston and to make better use of other railway arches.
St. Luke's Business Park
INFRASTRUCTURE
10.81 Realising the potential of the South Central area requires good connections to Glasgow’s strategic road and rail network. The Council supports Crossrail and is working to secure the implementation of the M74 Completion. The extension south and west of the East End Regeneration Route will be investigated through a Planning Study.
10.82 The Council also recognises the need to ensure that the implementation of these major pieces of infrastructure does not result in the severence of the South Side from the City Centre. There is therefore a need for a design framework to ameliorate the impact of Crossrail and the M74 Completion, particularly in terms of sustaining and improving links between the South Side and the City Centre.
10.83 The overall effect of significant house building in South Central will be to generate an increase in demand for community infrastructure. The Glasgow Muslim Community has built a new leisure and welfare facility adjacent to the Mosque and Islamic Centre at Gorbals Cross (13). The Council has provided the new Gorbals Leisure Centre (14) and the St. Francis Community Centre (15) and the Crown Street Project includes a public library and replacement Gorbals Parish Church. The Local Development Strategies for Oatlands and Tradeston and other planning work will not only address the wider transport issues, but will ensure that regeneration schemes take account of the need for shopping, leisure and community facilities.
10.84 Quality Bus Corridors have already been successfully implemented along Pollokshaws Road/Eglinton Street and Victoria Road/Gorbals Street. Additional Quality Bus Corridors will be promoted along Cathcart Road, Aikenhead Road and Rutherglen Road.
10.85 To assist the Council in delivering an efficient and cost-effective waste management and recycling service it is proposed to establish a materials reclamation facility at the Polmadie High Density Baling Plant (16).
ENVIRONMENT
10.86 At Crown Street, a new Gorbals Park (17) has been created and there are plans for a new local park in the former Gorbals Burial Ground (18). Streetscape works will improve the approach to the St. Andrew’s Suspension Bridge (19). Despite these improvements, many of the focal points in the South Central area lack townscape coherence and landscape quality. For instance, the Category A-Listed Caledonia Road Church, which is the subject of stabilisation works in the context of longer-term proposals for housing renewal, has potential to become a major gateway feature (20).
10.87 The Local Development Strategies and other planning work will consider the quality of the environment and set a context for vacant sites to contribute positively towards the image of the area and help fulfil its development potential. In addition to producing Local Development Strategies and Planning Studies, the Council will prepare Development and Project Briefs for areas such as Eglinton Toll (21) setting out urban design guidelines aimed at improving the townscape and links to adjacent areas.
