The public realm is publicly accessible external space - streets, spaces and lanes. It provides the setting for civic buildings, industry, business, commerce, green spaces and the setting for residential neighbourhoods.

It is widely accepted that Glasgow’s attraction to its citizens, its commercial competitors, and its success as a visitor destination are all influenced by the quality of its public realm. In recent years the Council, in partnership with Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, has been implementing an ambitious programme of improvements to the public realm in the City Centre with the aim of creating a high quality, sustainable and vibrant environment comparable with other international cities and encouraging street activity. Public Realm designs are based on the principles established in Glasgow City Centre Public Realm Strategy and Guidelines (1995).

Although the City Centre has a unique role and identity, many of the design principles established in the Public Realm Strategy have relevance throughout the City and provide the basis for delivering a high quality public realm.

1. The Council seeks the highest possible quality of public realm and expects the guidelines and design principles established in the Glasgow City Centre Public Realm Strategy and Guidelines’(1995) to inform new design. Fundamental principles include:

(a) improving the provision, layout and comfort of spaces for pedestrian use, whilst retaining good accessibility for public transport and other essential vehicles;

 

(b) designing with boldness, simplicity of style and elegance;

 

(c) using a selective palette of materials to provide a unifying theme and a distinctive sense of identity to the locality;

 

(d) specifying materials that reflect the relative importance of the location. All materials should be durable and robust, requiring minimum maintenance and be capable of maintaining their appearance over time;

(e) considering the incorporation of public art as an integral element of the design (see policy DES 6: Public Art); and

 

(f) ensuring accessibility for prams, wheelchair users and people with disabilities or mobility problems as an integral element of the design.

2. The design and location of street furniture should be carefully considered as an integral part of the design of the public realm and should be positioned so that it does not obstruct pedestrian desire lines, or pose a hazard to the visually impaired. Specific requirements for telephone boxes are given below.

3. In promoting comfortable, safe and lively streets and public spaces, encouragement will be given to mixed uses and active ground floor frontages at appropriate locations. Design should take account of crime and security issues and seek to provide surveillance, visibility and appropriate levels of lighting.

4. Telephone Boxes within the City Centre

In most areas of the City, no planning permission is required for the erection of telephone boxes by Code System Operators. Within the Central Conservation Area, however, an Article 4 Direction is in force that removes permitted development rights and requires a planning application to be submitted.

The following guidelines shall be followed when considering telephone box location. Telephone boxes should:

(a) be installed out of the line of pedestrian flows and not obstruct main shopping thoroughfares;

 

(b) not abut buildings, be sited at the heel of the footpath, or otherwise cause a hazard to the visually impaired;

 

(c) normally be sited 450mm in from the toe of the footpath to allow adequate sight lines;

 

(d) not be located on footpaths less than three metres wide; and

(e) be located so that they do not conflict with other street furniture and, preferably, should be incorporated into the design concept for the location.