The Millennium Link has re-opened the Forth and Clyde Canal and created coast to coast navigation between the River Clyde and Firth of Forth. It is anticipated that the re-use of the Canal as a leisure and tourism attraction will have a positive effect on land adjacent to the canal.

Historically, the Canal, particularly in the inner urban area, has been an industrial corridor. With the closure of the Canal in the 1960s, much of the land in close proximity to it is vacant or derelict. Nonetheless, the canal and its associated buildings have been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument and parts of it are also listed. It also forms part of the City’s green network and is a corridor of landscape and wildlife importance.

The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses the north of the City and passes through a number of distinct areas that provide different settings, from rural on the outskirts of the City at Cadder, to suburban, for example, at Blairdardie and Anniesland, and, inner-urban at Maryhill, Ruchill and Port Dundas. In terms of development of canal-side sites, the inner-urban stretch of the Canal offers the greatest potential for physical development on vacant and under-utilised sites adjacent to the corridor. While it is the intention to encourage development adjacent to the Forth and Clyde Canal within the City, it is also recognised that the Canal’s environmental and ecological assets need to be protected and enhanced.

The Canal corridor is included within the Green space designation on the Development Policy Principles Map, primarily because of its importance within the wider green network and is a corridor of wildlife and landscape importance. The Council, however, will respond positively to appropriate and well designed developments along the Canal corridor that take into account the above aspects and the other policies of the Plan. Development proposals that affect the Canal and its setting must ensure that the permeability of the Canal corridor is protected.

1. There will be a general presumption against development that is not compatible with the objective of protecting and improving the navigation and recreational amenity of the Canal.

2. The Council will encourage the use of the Canal as a leisure and tourist facility and development proposals on vacant and under-utilised sites adjacent to the Canal will be encouraged where they complement the re-opening and use of the Canal for these activities.

3. Suitable development proposals should be integrated with the Canal towpath wherever appropriate and in consultation with British Waterways. Buildings and hard landscaped elements should, however, be set back far enough from the canal edge to protect access to, and amenity of, the towpath.

4. The Council will encourage the upgrading of existing paths, or the creation of new paths, linking to the Canal and its towpath. Development proposals adjacent to the Canal should take account of existing links to the Canal and provide additional links, wherever appropriate.

5. Generally speaking, access to the side of the Canal without a towpath (the off-side), has been restricted. Any new developments on the off-side must take account of existing ecological and wildlife habitats.

6. No further obstructions to navigation on the Canal will be permitted. New or reconstructed crossings of the Canal will be required to comply with the standards set by British Waterways Scotland.

7. With the possible exception of the extraction of clay from Hamiltonhill for the purpose of renewing the Canal lining, there shall be a presumption against mineral extraction within the vicinity of the Canal.

8. There will be a presumption against development that is not compatible with the objective of protecting the Canal’s status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the listed buildings and its designation as a corridor of landscape and wildlife importance. Proposals that involve the demolition of listed buildings will be resisted.

9. High quality design and materials will be expected in the vicinity of the Canal.

10. Development proposals must be shown in the context of the Canal and demonstrate that they recognise and enhance the integrity of the heritage and landscape elements.

11. The Council will encourage the retention and refurbishment of listed canal features such as bascule bridges, aqueducts and former canal buildings to preserve the historic character of the Canal.