Green infrastructure plan to assist with regeneration of North Maryhill

A green infrastructure plan has been considered by Glasgow City Council as part of plans to regenerate North Maryhill to create an attractive, green, climate change resilient and connected neighbourhood.The Maryhill Transformational Regeneration Area (TRA) covers areas situated either side of Maryhill Road: to the north lies the North Maryhill/Gilshochill area, and to the south lies The Botany and Valley areas (Maryhill Locks), with recent development activity focused on the latter.The aim of this TRA – a partnership between Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Housing Association and the Scottish Government, with Maryhill Housing Association (MHA) – is to transform areas formerly dominated by poor housing by providing new sustainable mixed-tenure communities benefiting from strong links to the canal and River Kelvin green corridors.Completed development activity there includes works carried out by MHA and Cube Housing Association that have generated over 225 units for social rent and affordable housing. In addition is the delivery of a further 73 housing units, developed by BIGG Regeneration for private sale; and other works in the area include a self-build pilot scheme at Bantaskin Street which is seeing the creation of six plots for private residential development for people building their own home.With the regeneration activity progressing well in the south area, focus is now shifting to the north section and an ambition for a comprehensive redevelopment of Maryhill North. The aim is to develop Maryhill North into an area with attractive mixed-tenure accommodation, set within a high-quality landscape framework that serves as a multi-functional and connected greenspace for people to enjoy and nature to flourish.In order to achieve this aim, a number of challenges must be met, including: the poor quality of the environment – predominantly made up of poor quality, derelict, unmanaged green space; low-lying ground in the north of the site is at an increased risk of surface water flooding; disconnection from the wider active travel network; a number of barriers to movement within and surrounding the site, including: steep slopes (significant parts of the site are steeper than 1 in 5) and limited crossing points of transport infrastructure (rail line, canal, road).A consultation in March/April 2021 on proposals for green infrastructure in North Maryhill found that a majority supported plans for more usable greenspace and improved cycling and walking routes, and mixed housing types, especially for more family homes. The consultation helped inform the final version of the vision document for North Maryhill Green Infrastructure.The vision and masterplan for North Maryhill sees the area developed into a regenerated neighbourhood with a strong sense of place and identity, with housing clustered around and overlooking usable neighbourhood green space, and featuring surface water management, habitat creation and wider public transport and active travel links.The next steps for the delivery of the area’s Green Infrastructure Masterplan include a strategy for its implementation; investigation into funding streams; develop proposals and plans for future mixed-tenure housing within the identified development plots with Maryhill Housing Association, and further community engagement.