On the waterfront

james73 · On the waterfront

MULTI-million pound plans to transform a Glasgow canal side into a spectacular
viewpoint over the city have been unveiled.

Three dramatic designs have been drawn up for the Balcony of the City in
Speirs Wharf in the latest phase of major regeneration along the canal.

Project managers hope to create a £100million mixed residential,
commercial and cultural development in the area high above the city.

The development will offer a range of modern flats as well as commercial,
retail and leisure facilities with the existing Scottish Opera building and
listed warehouses of Speirs Wharf at the heart of the site.

The plans have been put forward by Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership
following consultation with the local community.

Three proposals have been posted on the GCRP's official website and
residents and businesses are now being urged to provide feedback to
shape the final design.

The plans include a traditional courtyard setting based on a tenement
design and terraces positioned to maximise daylight.

A final design will be completed over coming weeks taking into account
website responses and a public exhibition is planned for June.

James H

james73

Preferred masterplan is unveiled for historic canalside location

One of Glasgow's most outstanding and historic canalside locations is set to
be transformed into a community focused, cultural hub which will be the
pride of the city for generations to come.

Following an intense 10 month engagement programme involving over
300 people, a preferred masterplan has now been created by the
Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership (GCRP) for the area around
Speirs Locks which reflects both the unique setting and rich 200 year
heritage of this very special waterside environment.

The £100 million project, which will be unlike any other development in
the city, will see the transformation of approximately 30 acres around the
canal into a place where hotels and businesses mix easily with homes and
community, where children are encouraged to play in safe streets and
where jobs and business opportunities will be created.

In the preferred design proposal low to medium rise green roofed
'terraces' sweep across the length of the site, positioned to maximise
daylight and sunlight to gardens between the buildings.

The first phases of the proposed mixed use scheme include the creation
of approximately 100,000 sqft of offices, 250 homes - including
apartments and the opportunity for some canalside townhouses - a hotel,
shops, workspaces and studios, community facilities and child friendly
spaces, all set around a canal brought back to life with new moorings,
more boats and a year round series of activities and events.

A key element of the proposal is the re-creation of a link which would
allow residents and visitors to travel safely between the waterway in the
north of Glasgow and the city centre once again. Safe and easy walking
routes to local shops and amenities will ensure that car use is kept to a
minimum.

Speirs Locks is one of the highest profile and most visible locations in
Glasgow and with its elevated position the site has the potential to
become a 'Balcony for the City'. A mix of residential, commercial, leisure
and canal uses would combine to make this a truly inclusive location with
a unique canalside identity, to be enjoyed by local communities and
visitors from across the city and beyond.

James H

monument

I am not sure I like the look of that...

Maurice Taylor (big local hotel chain tycoon - ownes Dakota) is supposed to be involved in building a hotel and major hospitality training centre here. Good timing, as they are shutting the hospitality department down at University of Strathclyde next year.

james73

And now it all comes flooding back (Evening Times)

AN appeal has been made for photographic memories and anecdotes of
Scotland's canals to help create a nostalgic online scrapbook.

British Waterways wants to hear how people remember the Forth and Clyde
Canal which runs through Glasgow and the former Monkland Canal - which
once stretched from Airdrie to Glasgow.

The move is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the passing of the Transport
Act which ensured the future of the UK waterway network.

British Waterways said the legislation turned the ailing canals into booming
tourist traps which are now enjoyed by tens of thousands of people each year.

A spokeswoman said: "By the 1960s, commercial boat traffic on Britain's
canals had all but collapsed.

"But encouraged by waterway enthusiasts and campaigning groups, Harold
Wilson's Government recognised for the first time the important role that
waterways had to play in tourism and leisure.

"The 1968 Transport Act secured the future of this valuable asset for future
generations. In recent years British Waterways Scotland has reversed years
of neglect and revitalised the canals of Scotland, transforming them into important
national assets.

"It continues to develop the canals of Scotland into a thriving leisure resource
for the people and visitors, bringing benefits to the communities through which
they run."

There are 137 miles of canals in Scotland. They also include the Crinan Canal
in Argyll, the Union Canal between Edinburgh and Falkirk and the Caledonian
Canal in the Highlands.

British Waterways says it wants visitors old and new to contribute to the virtual
scrapbook.

Richard Millar, British Waterways Scotland said: "We're calling on people to
share their photos, drawings and nostalgic jottings of memorable day trips,
holidays and visits to help us capture these moments in a giant waterway
scrapbook."

Photos and memories should be sent to 40years of memories@waterscape.com

James H