Urban regeneration awards
WEST Dunbartonshire Council has lifted the National Community Regeneration Award at the 2008 Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum Awards.
The winning project focussed on improving the canal side environment at Clydebank Town Centre. The judges felt that the area is now “a vibrant and exciting space and the canal.
This impressive project involves a number of linked elements aimed at animating the Forth and Clyde canal within West Dunbartonshire, with a specific focus on improving the canalside environment at Clydebank Town Centre.
A study was commissioned in 2005 by Clydebank Rebuilt, West Dunbartonshire Council, British Waterways Scotland and Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire to identify ways of increasing activity on and alongside the canal and to improve the relationship of canal side development with the canal. It highlighted that, as the canal passes through Clydebank, it is bordered by poorly defined incidental space that is not well used. The study also emphasised the potential of the canal needed to be exploited, and the aspirations to turn Clydebank into an attractive destination and a hub of activity on the canal network.
A partnership working group was established to identify and take forward priority projects. One of the first tasks was to obtain the view of the local community through Clydebank Rebuilt’s established consultation process. A series of Design Forums in 2006-08 also gave the public an opportunity to provide input and comment on the key projects. The main physical development priorities were the redesign of the north canal bank at the heart of Clydebank Shopping Centre and the installation of an aesthetically pleasing new canopy over a central section of the canal footbridge.
The attractiveness of the canal environment, particularly in Clydebank, has been greatly enhanced. The town’s modern identity, and its presence as a node on the wider canal network, has been strengthened.
Judges comments
The judges felt that the area is now a vibrant and exciting space and the canal has been brought back to life through commitment to excellence in design. The public space has been reconfigured, physical barriers removed and a greener, safer, more attractive environment, with improved linkages and opportunities to access the canal for recreation, created.
When the judges visited the project, they were overwhelmed by the quality of design of the project and the transformation that has occurred through the use of innovative design and planning. The canal has become a thriving asset to the area which once again gives the local area a sense of pride in its waterway and has brought a markedly increased number of visitors to the area through the canal network.
The creation of an iconic bridge canopy has given back to Clydebank a strong sense of identity and civic pride in its canal front and provides a unique identifying structure for the area. Clever use of lighting and colour in the area has meant that at night the area has become a much safer and inviting space for the local community to use. Overall the commitment of the partners and the quality of design and imagination within the project has made it was a clear winner for this year’s SURF awards