This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Healing Scotland's industrial scars
09/06/2004
Disused and rundown sites around places like Greengairs
in Lanarkshire are to be 'greened' or transformed into
productive use through a £20 million regeneration fund, it
was announced today.
Under the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, Glasgow will
get £10 million, North Lanarkshire £6 million and Dundee £4
million over two years to rehabilitate over 150 hectares of
former industrial sites, landfill sites, and derelict
housing. Many of these sites have lain derelict for over 15
years.
The investment, being provided to local authorities,
aims to repair the sites and prepare them for further
development for business, residential or recreational
use.
Communities Minister Margaret Curran said:
"Decayed, derelict and disused sites do nothing for
quality of life, the environment or the economy. They're
not only a visual eyesore, but they're a blight on
neighbouring communities as well.
"By rehabilitating land like this we can vastly improve
the quality of our environment and the enjoyment people get
out of their surroundings.
"And in other areas, by priming land for redevelopment,
we can breathe life into communities by stimulating new
enterprises, bringing investment and new jobs to the
area."
North Lanarkshire Council Leader James McCabe said:
"This is excellent news from the Scottish Executive
which recognises the major vacant and derelict land
challenge that exists across North Lanarkshire.
"It is an excellent opportunity for the Council, and
lead partners Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire and
Communities Scotland, to make significant, additional
investment in regeneration projects across North
Lanarkshire. The funds will be used to help deliver a range
of physical projects that will bring positive social,
economic and environmental impacts for local
communities."
Regeneration proposals:
LANARKSHIRE
Within the following areas, specific projects will be
developed over the coming months:
- Airdrie
- Coatbridge
- Greengairs (1)
- Motherwell
- Wishaw
GLASGOW
Sites with economic development potential like:
- Dalsetter, Garscadden Road
- The former abbatoir, 80 Melbourne Street (2)
- Cambuslang Investment Park site
- Robroyston site
Sites heavily constrained due to contamination
including:
- High Street/Duke Street
- Lambhill Engineering works
- Hecla Place/Drumry Road East
Sites which will benefit from high quality landscaping
like:
- Parkhead Cross
- South Calton
- Forth and Clyde Canal Corridor
DUNDEE
Dundee's objective is to deal with derelict land and
buildings in key locations where it causes complaint, and
is clearly hindering private investment. Areas include:
- Stobswell (3)
- Hilltown
- Whitfield
- Baldovie
- Mid Craigie
- Kirkton/Trottick
- Dunsinane
1. Greengairs. There are a number of vacant and derelict
sites that form a 'cluster' in and around the Greengairs
area. Presently these sites play no meaningful role in the
community and are the subject of dereliction and fly
tipping. North Lanarkshire Council plan to work with the
community and site owners to develop a range of sustainable
project proposals for these sites, which can be funded from
the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund. This may include new
community facilities, parkland areas, woodland planting and
associated environmental improvements.
2. Glasgow's Melbourne St abbatoir and the College
Business District. Works will commence later this year on
demolition and site clearance of the Gallowgate former
abattoir site which forms part of the larger College
Business District development area. This major urban
regeneration site, parts of which have lain derelict for
more than 15 years, will now be transformed into a high
quality business and residential environment. The project
is expected to involve over 6,500 jobs, 200,000 sq.m. of
development and investment of #250 million.
3. Dundee's Stobswell area currently suffers from
physical degradation and a lack of demand for flats and
tenements linked to the continuing depopulation from the
city. The objective is to generally upgrade the area and
renew numerous small derelict sites, to make the area more
marketable for family housing.
The Vacant and Derelict Land Fund was set up following
the Executive'S Cities Review which found that there was a
need for more action on environmental and economic
regeneration in urban areas.