In July 2002 major flooding occurred in the north and east of Glasgow, following a severe storm. The impact on residents, properties and businesses led to a decision by the City Council to improve the existing Victorian infrastructure by developing a Strategic Drainage Plan, and to place water management as an important feature in its development plan policy framework.
The East End is home to some 48,500 residents and, over the next six years is going to radically alter. In an area of some 626 hectares 136 are derelict and the strategic development focus is on bringing major change through new roads (East End Regeneration Route; M74 completion); a 5,000 seat sports arena; a 1,500 seat velodrome; the village for Commonwealth Games Athletes in 2014; and major employer relocations. A new city quarter is to be created, for a population in the order of 57,250.
Work on the spatial strategy for the East End (EELDS) began in 2004 and from the start a new approach was taken to place making, basing the new local development policy frameworks on outcomes from Health Impact Assessment (HIA). The HIA demanded a network of quality urban landscapes of attractive green spaces, within walking distance of homes and workplaces. Combined with the need to address the water management issues, this created a strong foundation for sustainable development by utilising the professional interests of planners, landscape architects, architects and engineers. Glasgow recognised the opportunity to tackle landscape scale solutions and create integrated infrastructure combining water management networks with a walking/cycling network and a greenspace network. The EELDS was adopted in January 2008 and forms the basis for the more detailed work on large-scale masterplans. South Dalmarnock SUDS is a key pilot area for testing the strategic concepts as they translate into detailed design.
