Illuminating Links – a Forth and
Clyde Canal Celebration
The event will be used to raise awareness
with local residents of the long term regeneration
plans for the Glasgow branch of the Forth
& Clyde Canal. Over the past few years
the Lowland Canals have undergone an incredible
physical transformation and now the Glasgow
Canal Regeneration Partnership is working
to bring the waterway alive through a long
term regeneration project which will see sensitive
development from Port Dundas to Maryhill over
the next 15 to 20 years.
An extensive community engagement exercise
is ongoing in the area to ensure that everyone
with an interest in the revitalisation of
the canal corridor has an opportunity to input
into the proposals. It is hoped that the free
event, which has been organised by The
Waterways Trust Scotland with
support from British Waterways Scotland, Glasgow
City Council, ISIS Waterside Regeneration
and KeyHaven Developments, will attract residents
and visitors alike and become a regular feature
in Glasgow’s events calendar for years
to come.
“Illuminating Links promises to
be a great event, bringing together lots of
different people to celebrate the waterway.
Far from being a place to avoid, the Forth
& Clyde Canal has been transformed over
recent years and we are using this free event
to show local residents and visitors what
a great place our waterways are, and how much
they have to offer.”
Karen Moore, Head of Development at
The Waterways Trust Scotland
The Waterways Trust Scotland
is part of The Waterways Trust, a registered
charity, and works to promote greater public
enjoyment and awareness of the UK’s
waterways by raising funds for waterway restoration,
conservation, recreation and education.
http://www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk/
GLASGOW CANAL REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP
The Glasgow Canal Regeneration project aims
to revitalise the Glasgow section of the Forth
& Clyde canal from Port Dundas to Maryhill.
The project, which was formed in 2004 and
is a partnership between Glasgow City Council,
British Waterways Scotland and UK waterside
regeneration specialists ISIS, will seek to
create a fantastic waterside environment that
will bring benefits to those living and working
in Glasgow, whilst providing attractive destinations
for visitors to the city. Maryhill Locks has
been identified as an immediate priority for
development and regeneration and the partnership
is now consulting closely with residents about
the plans.
http://www.glasgowcanalregeneration.co.uk/
BRITISH WATERWAYS SCOTLAND
Some of the most famous and historic canals
can be found in Scotland stretching across
a 137-mile (220km) canal network, originally
built between 1768 and 1822. In recent years
British Waterways Scotland has reversed years
of neglect and revitalised Scotland's canals
transforming them into important national
assets. More and more Scots and visitors to
Scotland are discovering that canals are the
perfect way of exploring Scotland's wonderful
countryside.
British Waterways Scotland are committed to
the regeneration around the Glasgow Branch
of the Forth and Clyde Canal passing through
communities such as Maryhill, Ruchill, Firhill,
Westercommon, Hamiltonhill and Port Dundas.
This includes the Port Dundas Reconnection
which was the first step in kick-starting
the physical regeneration of north Glasgow's
canal corridor. The project reconnected the
Glasgow Branch of the Forth and Clyde Canal
from Speirs Wharf to the Port Dundas basin.
This section of canal was filled in when the
M8 motorway was constructed through Glasgow
in the 1960's.
The Port Dundas development opened for navigation
in October 2006.
For further information visit http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/scotland/scot_home/index.html
GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL
The City Council is engaged in a Joint Venture
with ISIS Waterside Regeneration Ltd, which
is a partnership set up deliver the development
and regeneration aims of British Waterways,
in order to breathe new life into the UK Canal
system. In addition the City Council also
directly engages with British Waterways in
related projects which enhance and support
the work with ISIS.
The rise of rail transport and then motor
transport together with the focus on the River
Clyde led to the eventual decline and obsolescence
of Canal system in Glasgow and the current
joint venture is delivering the first significant
investment in the Glasgow Canal system since
its closure in 1963.
To aid this joint venture, the City Council
has committed significant resources in land,
staff and finance with support substantial
from Scottish Government to achieving the
joint aims of the partner bodies. The Council
has been instrumental in delivering the new
basin at Speirs Locks to act as a reconnection
of the Glasgow Canal Branch to the historic
Port Dundas (Pinkston Basin), which was the
first international port facility for Glasgow
constructed in the late 1700s.
The Council has also played a primary role
in delivery of the evolving planning policy
with regard to the Canal’s Regeneration,
and in working with ISIS and British Waterways
to deliver credible masterplans for these
proposals. The first of these is currently
emerging for the Maryhill Locks. Further phases
will include masterplans and schemes for the
key focus areas around Speirs Locks, Port
Dundas, Firhill Basin and a Town Centre Action
Plan for Maryhill. The City Council is also
funding with its partners improvements to
the Canal and Towpaths, the public realm from
Cowcaddens Underground to the New basin and
numerous other “make a difference”
projects to lift the quality of the environment
and built form along the Canal corridor.
For example:
| • Maryhill Burgh halls – an £8
million Wet and Dry sports and leisure facility
(Commencing Autumn 2007), together with a
£7million refurbishment of the Burgh
Halls, Police and Fire station to create a
community and Business hub complex.
• A £1million programme for preliminary
regeneration works at Maryhill Locks (Commencing
Autumn 2007) including improvements to surrounding
public realm and environment including a Lighting
and Arts strategy and repairs and renewal
of Canal Towpaths and structures. This will
also include initial Design and preparation
of a Business plan for the refurbishment and
Re-use of the former Whitehouse Barr at Maryhill
Locks. It is envisaged that a successful approved
business plan for the Whitehouse will initiate
the Refurbishment of the premises in 2008.
• Design and delivery of new bridge
and footpath connections along the length
of the canal. |
The City Council’s vision and aim is
a 15 year project to deliver a second waterfront
regeneration for Glasgow, which will reconnect
renewed and new communities with the Canal
at their very heart, and create a unique urban
and environmental character to provide a renewed
sense of identity and place delivering tangible
economic, social and recreational benefits.
For more information
www.glasgow.gov.uk
ISIS
Launched at the Urban Summit in the Autumn
of 2002, with a £100 million initial
equity investment from British Waterways,
Amec Developments and Morley Fund Management’s
Igloo Fund, ISIS is now revitalising more
than170 acres of land in 9 towns and cities
across the UK. Our portfolio builds on the
natural strengths of the country’s waterways
and offers well designed, affordable, high
quality, aspirational and energy efficient
business space and homes.
As a regeneration specialist, ISIS strives
to optimise the commercial value of our developments
whilst remaining dedicated to establishing
or renewing sustainable waterside communities.
50% of our returns are re-invested by British
Waterways into refreshing Britain’s
rivers and canals.
Named after the Egyptian Goddess of rebirth
and rejuvenation, ISIS seeks to regenerate
key brownfield sites across the UK and bring
new life to desolate areas.
Discover the best of the UK's inland rivers
and canals with http://www.waterscape.com
BRITISH ENERGY
British Energy generates almost half of the
electricity used in Scotland virtually carbon-free.
It owns and operates Scotland's two nuclear
power stations at Torness and Hunterston B.
The company employs around 1,400 people in
Scotland and contributes £90 million
to the Scottish economy through staff wages
alone. British Energy believes that the UK
needs a balanced energy mix, including clean
coal, renewables, gas and conservation as
well as nuclear, in order to meet the twin
demands of securing electricity supply and
lowering carbon emissions.
http://www.british-energy.com
