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7 Lochs Wetland Park Masterplan

A feasibility study to investigate a new, nationally important Wetland Park, commissioned by The Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network in conjunction with the International Resources and Recycling Institute, has recently been published for consultation. The Seven Lochs Wetland Park vision and masterplan was produced by Collective Architecture in the role as lead consultant and architect.

The Seven Lochs Wetland Park, located between Glasgow and North Lanarkshire, aims to join up existing parks and nature reserves with new paths, cycleways, and enhanced visitor facilities, and could become one of Scotland's biggest outdoor recreation attractions, drawing people from across central Scotland. The project would also encompass significant regeneration and new development within and around the park, with plans for 4300 new homes over the next 15 years within designated community growth areas.

The masterplan examines how future development can be integrated into the Wetland Park through the provision of new green infrastructure and multi-functional green networks, creating high quality places where people want to live. This will draw on the principles and practice being developed by the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Integrated Green Infrastructure (IGI) project.

The Seven Lochs Wetland Park Masterplan is currently out for Consultation, and this period is to conclude at the end of 2011, with an updated final masterplan document scheduled to be issued Spring 2012.

The Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership are running a series of open events for people to find out more about the Wetland Park vision and masterplan, and to give the organisation feedback on the proposals. Dates include:

-Wednesday 23rd November, 7pm at Gartloch Community Centre
-Thursday 8th December, lunchtime event (12 – 2pm) at Glasgow City Council Department of Development and Regeneration Services, 229 George Street, Glasgow
-Saturday 10th December, 10am - 3pm – at Glenboig Community Centre

Proposed 7 Lochs Wetland Park Masterplan

Proposed 7 Lochs Wetland Park Masterplan highlighting position of visions

Strategy for the creation of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park

Vision

The Seven Lochs Wetland Park offers an innovative model for a park, with its unique combination of habitat and wildlife preservation, opportunities for recreation, and the integration of new housing. As a result of its size and location, the proposed park is ideally placed to create a countryside experience for visitors from urban areas to participate in activities that engage with nature. The park provides an amenity space for community use within areas with sometimes limited access to any other green space of a similar scale.

The successful integration of a number of designated community growth areas within the park, will ensure that these are sensitive, carefully designed, and innovative developments that strengthen the edges of the park, providing routes into the park from surrounding areas. Ensuring that the Seven Lochs Wetland Park is well integrated into the existing surrounding communities will make sure that it is recognised as an important local resource and is well used, whilst also attracting visitors from further afield.

Proposed Crannog at Lochend Loch

Proposed Frankfield Loch Viewpoint

Site

The site of the proposed Seven Lochs Wetland Park is a 16.5 square kilometre area located within the central belt of Scotland, and which lies within the boundaries of both Glasgow City Council and North Lanarkshire Council. The western edge of the park is situated 5 kilometres (3 miles) to the east of Glasgow City Centre. The park stretches for 8.7 kilometres (5.4 miles) east to west at its widest extents, from the east end of Glasgow towards Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire.

There is low density housing developments on all sides of the proposed park, with existing and expanding communities at Millerston, Hogganfield, Stepps, Cardowan, Gartcosh, Marnock, Glenboig, Townhead, Coatbridge, Bargeddie, Easterhouse, Garthamlock, Craigend, Riddrie and Ruchazie. The western boundary of the site is connected directly into Glasgow’s east end communities.

The site contains many wetland areas including seven kettle ponds formed during the last ice age. Interspersed within the wetland are areas of agricultural land (both working and fallow), areas of ancient and long established woodland, and areas of grassland. The site is of considerable ecological importance for wildlife and contains one of the largest areas of reed bed habitat in Central Scotland and several sites of special scientific interest.

Proposed Green Bridge across M73

 

Proposed Gartloch Pools Vision

Historical Context

The historical context of the site is greatly influenced by recent industrial use. The intrinsic character of the site and the variety of its wetlands however, dates back to the last ice age, when drifting and melting glaciers formed the network of kettle ponds on the site, referred to as the Garnkirk chain. At Lochend Loch and Bishop Loch, iron age crannog dwellings have been discovered as signs of early human settlement. The site of Drumpellier Estate was occupied by monks in the 12th century, later giving their name to the Monklands area.

At the onset of the industrial revolution, the site developed a strong industrial character, particularly related to coal and fireclay mining. Former industrial features on the site of the park included the Gartloch Distillery, the Glenboig Fireclay works and the Gartcosh Steelworks. The fireclay and steel works have since been demolished, whilst remnants of the distillery remain on the site.

The area around Coatbridge to the eastern edge of the site was also a dense area of heavy industry, and at the southern edge of the site there are also the remains of the Monkland Canal, now culverted through much of its route. Other local industrial uses of the site included a bleach works, and ice extraction at Hogganfield Loch.

It is hoped that the rich variety of history on the site offers a potential for visitor interaction and education, with historical trails connecting sites, and emphasis placed on key historical features to help define the identity of the park.

Proposed Central Boardwalk

Transport Routes

The proposed site of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park occupies a prominent position at an axis of transport corridors in West Central Scotland. As a result good transport connections will allow visitors to access the park from the rest of Scotland, the north of England, and from further afield. The location provides an opportunity for a park of national significance, contributing not only to a strategic green network for Glasgow and Clyde Valley, but also to the Central Scotland Green Network which is identified as a national priority in the second National Planning Framework.

The park boundary also connects directly to the eastern edge of the Glasgow city metropolis, allowing opportunities for pleasant pedestrian and cycle connections to and from the city centre. Of equal importance is the close proximity of Coatbridge to the eastern edge of the proposed park.

As the park is surrounded by established communities on all sides, this promises enhanced connections with these communities, through the designation of clear routes across the park, which will help to integrate them into the Seven Lochs Wetland Park.

 

Proposed Newt Pond at Glenboig

Konik Ponies at Cardown Moss

Greenspace Context

Greater Glasgow is served by large scale parks such as Mugdock Country Park to the North and Pollok Country Park to the south. However, with the exception of Glasgow Green and Alexandra Park, which offer smaller more formal park experiences, the east end of the city has limited green spaces on such a large scale.

Consequently, the proposed park has the opportunity to be of unique significance as the largest designated parkland directly accessible to the city. This will further add to the city’s reputation for an abundance of publicly accessible green spaces.

Hogganfield Loch

 

Proposed refurbished shop and visitor centre at Stepps

Summary Strategy

1. Define the physical extents of the wetland park.
2. Introduce a principal route through the wetland park connecting east and west via the lochs.
3. Identify a number of green fingers or corridors to encourage neighbouring communities into the park.
4. Identify specific zones, or clusters, within the park related to surrounding communities.
5. Create seven visitor gateways at key locations in around the perimeter of the wetland park within existing, proposed and new buildings.
6. Propose a number of site specific interventions and focal points for way finding and park interaction.
7. Propose a strategy for the integration of the community growth areas into the wetland park.
8. Protect and enhance existing habitats on the site through the retention and encouragement of their ecosystems.
9. Create new water bodies, wetlands and other habitats to expand existing habitat networks.
10. Integrate a strategy for current and future water management within the framework of a wetland park.

Initial Sketch Proposal

Bishop Loch: Existing adjacent landBishop Loch: Picnic Area VisionBishop Loch: Vision for viewing platform

All images courtesy of © Collective Architecture