Landscape Framework

New Boulevard and tree planting

Distinctive features of the regeneration scheme will include the boulevard tree planting along the Rutherglen Road Diversion, and street tree planting throughout the new neighbourhood.  There will also be significant landscape input to Richmond Park and the high-quality focal point of Oatlands Square.  Particularly noticeable will be the use of hedging (of various species) to reinforce the front boundaries of housing and to define the edges of Oatlands Square.  The landscape architects for Phases 1 and 2 are Brindley Associates.

Creating a Sustainable Community

The regeneration project eschews the more visible and faddish features traditionally associated with 'sustainability' such as wind turbines and large amounts of timber cladding.  Instead, the emphasis is on solid measures to make better use of land, minimise energy consumption and create a new neighbourhood in which existing community identity can be retained and enhanced.  Unlike many current development schemes, particularly those with more outlandish architectural solutions, the development is designed to last for at least 100 years without major restructuring.

The main 'sustainable' features of the Oatlands regeneration are:

• Development on a 'brownfield site' relieving pressure on agricultural land, cutting down on unnecessary commuting, and providing a range of housing which would be of interest to those who would normally move to the suburbs;
• Availability of frequent bus services and of direct, attractive cycle and footpath routes, linked to the City Centre via Glasgow Green;
• Use of natural materials wherever possible - timber window frames and eaves details are mandatory, while finishes with high embodied energy such as plastic wall cladding are prohibited;
• Incorporation of sustainable drainage systems involving the installation of filter drains/water storage;
• High levels of thermal insulation in the houses, improving comfort and minimising heating costs and energy usage;
• Re-use of demolition materials on site wherever possible, mainly crushed materials being used to raise ground above flood levels;
• Remediation of ground contamination including chromium waste and oil saturation;
• Conservation and enhancement of wildlife habitats in Richmond Park;
• Provision of relocated allotment gardens; and
• High levels of community engagement.