Glasgow Harbour
Encyclopedia
Glasgow Harbour is an urban regeneration scheme at Partick
in the city of Glasgow
, Scotland
.
After many years of dereliction caused by the decline of shipbuilding and the migration of Glasgow's docks to the Firth of Clyde
, since the mid 1980s, the banks of the River Clyde
at Glasgow have become a focus for property developers. Mirroring the Docklands scheme in London
, the old docks, and sites of old granaries, wharves and shipyards in Glasgow are being redeveloped into up-market residential apartments, office complexes and leisure facilities.
The earliest developments were the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
(SECC) at the former Queen's Dock in 1985, and the Glasgow Garden Festival
at the former Prince's Dock in 1988, which demonstrated the potential of the riverside area as a catalyst for urban regeneration. Through the 1990s, riverside apartment buildings began to appear at Lancefield Quay on the North bank and the former General Terminus Quay on the South bank, and the Norman Foster
-designed Clyde Auditorium
was opened at the SECC in 1997. The former Garden Festival site is now home to the Glasgow Science Centre
including Glasgow Tower (the spiritual successor to the Clydesdale Bank
tower which was part of the Garden Festival). There has been further development at this site, with a new headquarters for BBC Scotland
forming the cornerstone of a new "media village".
Phase 1 of the Glasgow Harbour Project, by the Clyde Port Authority at the former Meadowside Granary, Yorkhill Quay and confluence of the River Kelvin
in Partick
, has consisted of high rise residential accommodation and the construction of a riverside walkway.
Phase 2 of the project will include more high-rise apartment towers, including a 23-storey, 134 metres (440 ft) residential block. This has sparked controversy given Glasgow's history of tower block
building, particularly in the 1960s, with some of the new developments being compared unfavourably to the Red Road
flats in the city's north side. There are also plans for a new Museum of Transport
and large-scale commercial developments at the site.
In September 2006, the Clyde Arc
road bridge opened to traffic, enhancing access to the South Bank at the SECC. Transport links will also be a key feature of Glasgow Harbour, with a pre-light rail
metro
system planned, to be called Clyde Fastlink
, which will link the area to the city centre areas, with possible interchanges to the Subway
.
There is also a Car Club, with 2 vehicles provided by Glasgow Car Club.
Partick
Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:...
in the city of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
After many years of dereliction caused by the decline of shipbuilding and the migration of Glasgow's docks to the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
, since the mid 1980s, the banks of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
at Glasgow have become a focus for property developers. Mirroring the Docklands scheme in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the old docks, and sites of old granaries, wharves and shipyards in Glasgow are being redeveloped into up-market residential apartments, office complexes and leisure facilities.
The earliest developments were the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
(SECC) at the former Queen's Dock in 1985, and the Glasgow Garden Festival
Glasgow Garden Festival
The Glasgow Garden Festival was the third of the United Kingdom's five National Garden Festivals, and the only one to take place in Scotland.It was held in Glasgow between 26 April and 26 September 1988...
at the former Prince's Dock in 1988, which demonstrated the potential of the riverside area as a catalyst for urban regeneration. Through the 1990s, riverside apartment buildings began to appear at Lancefield Quay on the North bank and the former General Terminus Quay on the South bank, and the Norman Foster
Norman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank
Norman Robert Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, OM is a British architect whose company maintains an international design practice, Foster + Partners....
-designed Clyde Auditorium
Clyde Auditorium
The Clyde Auditorium, familiarly known as "The Armadillo", is an iconic concert venue in Glasgow, Scotland. The building sits on the site of the now infilled Queen's Dock on the River Clyde, adjacent to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre....
was opened at the SECC in 1997. The former Garden Festival site is now home to the Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre is a visitor attraction located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a purpose-built science centre composed of three principal buildings which are the Science Mall, an IMAX cinema and the Glasgow Tower...
including Glasgow Tower (the spiritual successor to the Clydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank is a commercial bank in Scotland, a subsidiary of the National Australia Bank Group. In Scotland, Clydesdale Bank is the third largest clearing bank, although it also retains a branch network in London and the north of England...
tower which was part of the Garden Festival). There has been further development at this site, with a new headquarters for BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
forming the cornerstone of a new "media village".
Phase 1 of the Glasgow Harbour Project, by the Clyde Port Authority at the former Meadowside Granary, Yorkhill Quay and confluence of the River Kelvin
River Kelvin
The Kelvin rises on watershed of Scotland on the moor south east of the village of Banton, east of Kilsyth - . At almost 22 miles long, it initially flows south to Dullatur Bog where it falls into a man made trench and takes a ninety degree turn flowing west along the northern boundary of the bog...
in Partick
Partick
Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:...
, has consisted of high rise residential accommodation and the construction of a riverside walkway.
Phase 2 of the project will include more high-rise apartment towers, including a 23-storey, 134 metres (440 ft) residential block. This has sparked controversy given Glasgow's history of tower block
Tower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
building, particularly in the 1960s, with some of the new developments being compared unfavourably to the Red Road
Red Road (flats)
The Red Road Flats are a high-rise housing complex which lies between the districts of Balornock and Barmulloch in the north east of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It consists of eight multi-storey blocks. Two are "slabs", much wider in cross-section than they are deep. Six are "points" — more of a...
flats in the city's north side. There are also plans for a new Museum of Transport
Glasgow Museum of Transport
The Glasgow Museum of Transport in Glasgow, Scotland was established in 1964 and initially located at a former tram depot in Pollokshields. From 1987 the museum was relocated to the city's Kelvin Hall...
and large-scale commercial developments at the site.
In September 2006, the Clyde Arc
Clyde Arc
The Clyde Arc , is a road bridge spanning the River Clyde in Glasgow, in west central Scotland, connecting Finnieston, near the Clyde Auditorium and SECC with Pacific Quay and Glasgow Science Centre in Govan. A prominent feature of the bridge is its innovative curved design and the way that it...
road bridge opened to traffic, enhancing access to the South Bank at the SECC. Transport links will also be a key feature of Glasgow Harbour, with a pre-light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
metro
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system planned, to be called Clyde Fastlink
Clyde Fastlink
Clyde FastLink is a proposed high frequency dedicated bus link in Glasgow, United Kingdom. It is planned to run between Glasgow city centre and several local and regional destinations, including Glasgow Harbour, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and Renfrew. The scheme is being led by...
, which will link the area to the city centre areas, with possible interchanges to the Subway
Glasgow Subway
The Glasgow Subway is an underground metro line in Glasgow, Scotland. Opened on 14 December 1896, it is the third-oldest underground metro system in the world after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro. Formerly a cable railway, the Subway was later electrified, but its twin circular lines...
.
There is also a Car Club, with 2 vehicles provided by Glasgow Car Club.