£3.5 Million Canal Project Will Help Link North Glasgow To City Centre
7 September 2006
British Waterways has unveiled a £3.5 million landscaping and public realm project at the site of the spectacular new canal basin at Port Dundas which will help push forward the regeneration of Glasgow 's canal corridor.
The project will play a key role in the creation of a thriving canal quarter and new events space for Glasgow , with the improvements helping to link the new canal basin - which is scheduled for completion later this month - to the city centre. Works will include the creation of an entrance plaza, improved lighting and a direct cycle/walkway to the basin.
British Waterways has welcomed news that the Scottish Executive will contribute £1.5 million towards the project, with further investment of £1.25 million from Glasgow City Council and £0.5 million from Scottish Enterprise Glasgow which will be made available in the next financial year to complete the first phase of the public realm improvements at Port Dundas .
The Glasgow Canal Regeneration Project, a partnership between ISIS Waterside Regeneration and Glasgow City Council, will see the creation of a series of mixed use developments and a number of new destinations across 1,000 acres of the Glasgow branch of the Forth & Clyde canal, from Port Dundas to Maryhill, over the next 15 to 20 years.
Speaking at British Waterways Scotland 's annual meeting in Edinburgh, Minister for Transport, Tavish Scott said: "The regeneration project at Port Dundas basin is a great example of the vital work British Waterways is taking forward with Glasgow City and its waterside regeneration partners. I am pleas ed to announce today additional funds of £1.5 million to ensure that work makes a real difference to the people of North Glasgow ."
Steve Dunlop, Director Scotland at British Waterways, added : "This is tremendous news. The new canal basin and landscape links will help to create a fantastic waterside environment for the local community and for visitors to the city, with the works representing the first stage in a long-term regeneration initiative that will deliver a powerful force for positive change in North Glasgow ."
Hanzala Malik, Glasgow City Council's Executive Member for Development and Regeneration Services and the chair of the Canal Partnership Steering Group, said: "This is a very exciting phase of the revitalisation of Glasgow's canal corridor. High quality public space is one of the most important features of successful regeneration projects. I am confident that the £1.25 million, together with the contributions of the other partners, will help to create an attractive waterside location where Glaswegians can live, work and relax and which visitors to our city will enjoy."
Stuart Patrick, operations director, Scott ish Enterprise Glasgow said: "The completion of the canal basin at Port Dundas is a key milestone in building a waterfront environment in the heart of the city. Getting the infrastructure right is a key element of attracting the type of investment necessary if we are to see sustainable regeneration in this area. The linkages with the city centre this investment will fund, along with other environmental improvements, will lay the foundations for the development of a thriving new commercial and residential quarter."
Mark Ryder, Chief Executive of ISIS Waterside Regeneration, said: "The public realm improvements and landscape links at Port Dundas will bring a series of benefits to communities in North Glasgow by linking them with the City Centre. The regeneration of the Glasgow Canal Corridor is a long term process and the funding announcement for these important works is most welcome as work on the planning and development process continues."
In addition to the new funding for works at Port Dundas, The British Waterways annual meeting heard that a series of improvements and developments across Scotland 's canals are helping the newly revitalis ed 200 year old network add real value to society and deliver real benefits to the people of Scotland . Steve Dunlop highlight ed the huge potential of the waterway network and stress ed that partnership working will be key as efforts are made to create a series of first class waterside destinations across the country.
On the Cal ed onian Canal, the 10 year £20 million lock stabilisation project was complet ed earlier this year, securing the future of the magnificent waterway and ensuring that the canal continues to be an economic driving force in the Highlands . Amongst other projects British Waterways is now looking to masterplan the area around Muirtown Basin in Inverness while Fort Augustus' potential as a first class tourist destination is being examin ed in detail.
Over the past twelve months dredging works were undertaken along the Crinan Canal while Ardrishaig swing bridge was completely refurbished. Moving forward British Waterways and its partners are now looking at the regeneration potential of Ardrishaig.
A number of initiatives have also been taken forward on the Lowland canals. The Helix Project, a partnership between Falkirk Council, British Waterways and Central Scotland Forest Trust to regenerate a 300 hectare site between Grangemouth and Falkirk, was one of only 23 projects across the UK to receive a development grant from the Big Lottery Living landmarks programme.
The Waterside Pub Partnership, a joint venture with Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises, is looking at a number of potential sites in the Lowlands and Highlands for development, and The Falkirk Wheel has reinforced its position as one of the country's leading visitor attractions, with visitor numbers for April to August 2006 showing a 44% increase on the same period last year.
Campbell Christie , Vice Chairman of British Waterways and Chairman of the British
Waterways Scotland Group, said: "All of Scotland 's canals have undergone an intense period of restoration over the past few years and the support of the Scottish Executive has been an important element in the success of this regeneration activity. There is still considerable work to be done to realise the full potential of the network and I look forward to working with all our partners as we strive to make the vision a reality and deliver a series of canal related benefits for the people of Scotland ."
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Issued on behalf of British Waterways by Wave PR. For further information contact Chris Bell , Tel: 0141 303 8390 Mobile : 07974 692 330
General Information
British Waterways
British Waterways is a public corporation, an organisation owned by the people of this country on whose behalf we manage and care for more than 2,000 miles of canals and rivers in England , Scotland and Wales .
British Waterways Scotland
Responsibility for inland waterways in Scotland is a devolved matter, with funding for British Waterways' Scottish activities coming from the Scottish Executive. In Scotland the 137-mile (220km) canal network includes the Caledonian, Crinan, Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland canals.
British Waterways Scotland works in partnerships with local authorities, voluntary groups, private companies and other government agencies to protect and enhance the waterways and benefit the communities through which they run.
The organisation balances the conservation of the country's heritage and environment with developing commercial opportunities to generate income to reinvest in the waterways for further sustainable regeneration.