£566m rebirth of city’s canal area gets under way
GLASGOW’S Forth and Clyde canal area is to benefit from a £566million regeneration of the canal corridor.
For almost 200 years the Forth and Clyde canal was a vital link for boats travelling from one side of Scotland to the other.
However, it suffered as seagoing vessels were built larger and could no longer pass through.
For decades, the land beside the canal was virtually ignored as developments sprung up across other parts of Glasgow.
Today all that has changed and a £566m regeneration of the canal corridor is planned between the Pinkston basin and Maryhill Locks.
It will transform an area that has slowly been reborn over the past decade after many years in the wilderness.
Key areas are Sighthill, Pinkston basin, Port Dundas, Speirs Locks, Applecross basin, Firhill basin and Maryhill Locks.
New developments already in place are Pinkston Paddlesports Centre, the striking new Maryhill Housing Association canal side properties and the cultural quarter on both sides of the canal.
Construction sites have sprung up along the banks, others have planning permission and work to combat flooding means more land will be made available for housing, offices and other uses.
Thousands of new homes will be built close to the canal between 2017 and 2027 in Dundashill, Cowlairs, Hamiltonhill, Possilpark, Maryhill, Sighthill and Ruchill.
Almost 2000 will be houses, more than1000 will be flats and 600 will be socially rented properties.
City council leader Frank McAveety said: “It is a real pleasure to see the regeneration of the canal in Glasgow and over the next decade we can expect to see the area completely transformed.
“New homes, community facilities and visitor attractions will make this a great place in which to live, work and visit.
“It is fair to say the canal was a forgotten waterfront of Glasgow but no longer and we can look forward to this part of the city playing a key role in our social, cultural and economic life now and in the future.”
There is also the potential for custom built homes on the canal similar to what can be found in Amsterdam.
And a park is to be created along the canal featuring sculptural signs and street lighting.
Steve Dunlop, CEO of Scottish Canals, said: “North Glasgow has seen major investment in recent years which has transformed it into a dynamic and exciting place to live, work, study and do business.
“Now that to create a new hilltop village have taken a step closer, this pace of change is accelerating.
“North Glasgow is not only one of Europe’s most exciting places for cultural talent and a great place to try cutting-edge sports, it will soon house a new residential community, Glasgow’s first inner city nature reserve, pioneering water drainage solutions and bustling business space.
“What makes the Glasgow Canal project so successful is the partnership between public, private and third sector organisations including Scottish Canals, and Glasgow City Council.”