7.6 The main elements of the City’s image date from the late Victorian era when Glasgow was a world leader in commerce and industry. Much of this heritage remains in the City’s compact and densely developed urban form, particularly in the remaining areas of tenemental housing in the Inner Urban Area and in the City Centre. The urban parks, the River Clyde and the established routes into the City also contribute to Glasgow’s distinctive image and identity.
7.7 In order to provide broad guidance for prospective developers, a Built Form Map has been produced. The Map, which can also be read in conjunction with the Urban Design Strategy, is based on an assessment of the physical form and structure of the City, its built form and townscape character areas, topography and natural features, landmarks and views. It also identifies the Inner and Outer Urban Areas of the City and helps support the Plan’s aim of reinforcing Glasgow’s positive attributes and distinctiveness by safeguarding the best of the existing character, while affording exciting opportunities for new development to contribute positively to Glasgow’s image.
7.8 Six broad residential townscape classifications, conveying the dominant residential character of the City, have been identified in the Built Form Map. They help potential developers determine, in general terms, the context within which their proposals sit. The Map identifies the City’s main roads, from which residents and visitors experience much of the feel of the City. The nodes and focal points where roads cross and people gather are also identified. Many of these contain traditional shopping areas and landmark buildings. Read in conjunction with Supplementary Guide 6: Public Transport Accessibility Zones in Part 2, the Map helps define where higher density and mixed developments may be appropriate.
7.9 The Council wishes to reinforce the guidance provided by the Built Form Map and actively maintain and promote a distinctive Glasgow image. This will be achieved by encouraging high-quality, contemporary design, that complements, or re-interprets, traditional or characteristic building forms and style and respects building material, colour and ornamentation traditions. New developments should also respect, and be integrated with, the traditional street patterns within which they are set, to provide a choice of movement options, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. They should be outward looking and avoid cul-de-sacs, encouraging connections and links with adjacent developments and streets. Incorporating permeability into new developments will encourage greater activity on streets and, in turn, improve surveillance and passive security.
7.10 Policies and design guidance supporting the Plan’s aims and proposals are included in Part 2 and a summary of the Urban Design Strategy set out in the City Plan Technical Note: Natural Environment. Policies and guidance set a framework through which the scale and quality of new development will be influenced. Within the City, appropriate development will be encouraged and inappropriate development resisted.
The City Council will assess development proposals against the Development Policies, Supplementary Guides and Design Guidance set out in Part 2.
7.11 While the Built Form Map, Urban Design Strategy and Development Policies provide useful guidance, it is recognised that certain development opportunities are of a scale that makes their outcomes particularly important. There is a need to ensure that major opportunity sites, for example along the Clyde Corridor and in the Areas of Focus, are developed to the highest standards and contribute positively to the City’s built heritage. More specific guidance, in the form of Urban Design Frameworks for large areas and Design Guidance incorporated into Planning Briefs for individual sites, to help achieve the highest possible standard and quality in key locations, should be prepared.
The City Council will prepare Urban Design Frameworks for major regeneration areas and incorporate Design Guidance in Planning Briefs.
