Glasgow translates from Gaelic as “place of the green hollow”, which over the years has been adapted as “dear green place”. I had always been told that this was because of the number of parks and greenspaces in the city, and indeed, data produced as part of Scotland’s Greenspace map in 2017 puts Glasgow top of Scottish cities for the amount of accessible greenspace.

We all know and recognise the need to densify sustainable locations like city centres and the challenge this presents in accommodating greenspace.

Developers of city centre sites are increasingly looking to rooftop gardens, amenity decks, central courtyards and even running tracks to provide an element of greenspace provision in an urban environment. In almost all cases though, for residential development in particular, an offsite financial contribution is necessary to meet the policy standards.

The level of financial contribution often goes into the tens of thousands and on larger developments hundreds of thousands of pounds, but often, understandably, gets invested in greenspace projects and park upgrades far from the development that is providing the funding.

The Glasgow City Development Plan (adopted 2017) suggests refining this approach with a more site specific and targeted greenspace strategy – to ensure the relationship between developments and local greenspace requirements are more obvious.

At the time of writing this is still to be introduced as policy by the Council.

What’s clear is that new thinking is required to ensure greenspace, as critical infrastructure, achieves local priorities.

Through the Council’s suggested new approach perhaps less traditional routes should be explored, for instance creating a generally greener urban fabric that appeals to the widest audience possible and those who do not normally engage with greenspace.

An example of this could be the River Clyde corridor and the ambition for more useable spaces, improved walkways and recreation spaces in some of the neglected parts of the waterfront.

Iceni advise on a number of sites in Glasgow City Centre and beyond, we would be pleased to assist you with any queries you might have on the application of greenspace policy or other matters in relation to new developments.