Glasgow City Council has launched a consultation on the future of the Cowcaddens, Learning Quarter, Merchant City, and Townhead districts in the city centre.

The council recently appointed a team to help prepare ambitious regeneration action plans for these four districts, and the project team have launched a website and Freephone line to help engage with as many people as possible in the coming months.  These distinctive city centre areas will each have a District Regeneration Framework (DRF) to guide their future development.

A DRF is a 10-year regeneration planning framework and action plan, and each DRF will guide the city centre’s physical, social and economic regeneration. The DRFs support both Glasgow’s City Development Plan and the City Centre Strategy.

The yourcitycentre2020.commonplace.is/ website invites contributors to share comments and ideas about how to improve these four districts in future.  The consultation will give the opportunity to share thoughts on how these districts feel now and ideas about how they could and should be improved.

The consultation team especially want to hear views on how it can be made easier to get around the city centre; how streets and open spaces can be improved; and hear thoughts on housing and places to work and learn, and on the mix of activities required to create a thriving, active city centre in the future. The city centre plays a key role for Glasgow as a whole as well as the surrounding region beyond it, so thoughts on connectivity are also welcome.

As well as the website, a Freephone number will go live in July and August and will be staffed by the project team on specific dates. This will give those without online access the chance to share their ideas.

The Freephone line is 0800 1583973. This can be called at the following dates/times: Thursday 2 July, noon – 2pm, 5 – 7pm, Saturday 4 July, 10am – noon. Other dates will be made available in due course.

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The district regeneration frameworks for the city centre will play a key role in creating a city centre fit to meet the challenges now in front of us. By taking part in this consultation, everyone with a stake in these four neighbourhoods can join with the council and our expert project team can help shape a city centre that is sustainable, attractive and liveable.”

Graham Ross, architect and urban planner at Austin-Smith:Lord – part of the project team – said: “To ensure future action plans for these districts are relevant and effective we need to develop distinctive, local solutions with the people who know the place best. We’re looking for ideas, big and small, to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, learns or visits here. It’s vital that we tap in to local wisdom and knowledge so we can capture the essence of the issues needing attention and set a positive agenda for regeneration and recovery the next ten years. We want anyone passionate about Glasgow to share ideas about how to enhance our everyday experiences of these districts, and help set future ambitions that will enable Glasgow to thrive as a great European city.”

The city centre is one of Glasgow’s most important assets. Glasgow City Council’s City Centre Strategy identifies nine Districts and a series of Avenues – the latter funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal – as the basis of planning and delivering sustainable regeneration across the city centre. Good progress has been made with the first five District Regeneration Frameworks (DRFs) published, and design work for the first two ‘blocks’ of Avenues is progressing, following the construction of the Sauchiehall Street ‘Avenue’ pilot.

The five city centre DRFs already adopted promote an ambitious future vision that includes a River Park along the Clyde, increased city centre living with enhanced community facilities and improvement to walking, cycling and public transport networks to create healthy, sustainable connections between communities and opportunities. The (Y)our Broomielaw DRF secured a Scottish Design Award in 2019.

For further information, go to citycentrestrategy@glasgow.gov.uk

We are delighted to have been appointed by Abellio ScotRail as Lead Design Consultant for the delivery phase of the £8m redevelopment of Aberdeen Station.

Austin-Smith:Lord were originally appointed as part of the design team in January 2017 to provide pre-construction architectural services. The scope of work developed from previous studies by Abellio ScotRail’s team and extended to include the design of new accommodation for LNER and Abellio ScotRail. The need to enhance the existing station and create a more conspicuous and fitting entrance for arrival and departure in Scotland’s 3^rd largest city was also identified during the design process and will include new signage and feature lighting.

The project also includes:

• A Glazed pod for 1^st class and the new sleeper service passengers to be inserted within the concourse area at first floor level with waiting, toilet & shower facilities.
• Reconfiguration of existing Station retail units with glazed extensions to the concourse frontage to provide enhanced facilities for passengers and station users.
• Conversion of existing ticket office and 1^st class lounge to create additional retail space with active frontage directly onto Union Square.
• Refurbishment of the 2 storey North Corner building for commercial lease including repairs to the building envelope to safeguard the fabric of this A-listed property.
• Re-provision of ticket office into reconfigured accommodation within the listed sandstone pavilion building centrally and conveniently located in the concourse.
• Upgrade of existing station concourse area.
• Creation of new accommodation for station maintenance, train care and station staff.
• Remodelling of existing station accommodation to provide enhanced welfare facilities for station staff, train crews and LNER.
• Reconfiguration of taxi rank area to integrate cycle storage, hostile vehicle mitigation, improved taxi waiting areas and enhancement to finishes and lighting to improve the passenger appearance.

The design process required close collaboration with Abellio ScotRail in consultation with Network Rail, Aberdeen City Council Planning and Building Control, specialist suppliers and the local accessibility panel.

A phasing strategy was devised by the design team and Abellio ScotRail during the pre-tender stage and is subsequently being developed by the contractor Morrison Construction to allow the station to remain operational with a safe environment for staff, station users and passengers provided during construction.

Contractors will begin work on the site when it is safe to do so, following the current Coronavirus pandemic. The project will be completed in stages, with work on the station redevelopment expected to take around one year to complete. Given that the project was conceived pre Covid-19, the delivery methodology therefore is currently being adapted to comply with Scottish Government guidelines.

Kirsty Devlin, ScotRail Head of Projects, said “The redevelopment of Aberdeen station will see significant enhancements in retail, improved access to the station, a new ticket office, and new first-class lounge.

“The investment we are making in the North East – in the redevelopment of Aberdeen station, the Aberdeen to Inverness improvement programme, and in Inter7City trains connecting Scotland’s seven cities – means it’s an exciting time for this part of the country.”

Austin-Smith:Lord’s Project Director/Lead Designer, Andrew McCafferty said “Having worked on the project since January 2017, we are delighted that it has received funding. We have enjoyed collaborating with Abellio ScotRail during the design process to develop a solution that will enhance the quality of environment for station users and improve the passenger experience to and from Scotland’s 3^rd largest city. In collaboration with our sub consultants Fairhurst and SVM, we look forward to working with Morrison Construction during the delivery phase.”

The first stage of the £150 million upgrade of the city’s train station has been completed as work to knock down the existing out-dated building starts from this week.

Richard Cronin, Executive Director at Austin-Smith:Lord said “We are delighted to see the Phase 1 concourse open to the public, taking pressure off the existing much smaller booking hall and concourse. The station was designed to allow for a growth in patronage taking account forecasts until 2035, that additional space will now be vital to maintain social distancing and to destress the passenger experience as we return to public transport. It has been over 10 years in the making and thanks to Ion Developments and  City of Wolverhampton Council for standing behind the scheme through the 2008 financial crisis and now a pandemic and to Galliford Try, Network Rail, West Midlands Trains for coming together to finish Phase 1. Finally a mention to Virgin Trains without whom the early stages of this and getting it to site would not have happened”

Click here for Express & Star news article.

Glasgow City Council have appointed a multi-disciplinary team of local and international consultants to prepare pioneering planning frameworks for the future of four City Centre Districts.

A team, led by Glasgow-based Austin-Smith:Lord, have recently been appointed by Glasgow City Council to prepare the next round of District Regeneration Frameworks (DRFs) for Cowcaddens, Townhead, the ‘Learning Quarter’ and the Merchant City districts. This follows on from work by the same consultants for the (Y)our City Centre DRFs for Broomielaw, St. Enoch, Central and Blythswood.

The team includes Rotterdam-based urbanists Studio for New Realties led by Jeroen Zuidgeest who was involved in previous (Y)our City Centre DRFs as Partner at MVRDV. The team also draws upon the expertise of Urban Movement and Civic Engineers – who are working with Glasgow City Council on the Glasgow City Region City Deal ‘Avenues’ project and local artist-led organistion, WAVEparticle who recently represented Scotland at the Venice Biennale and have undertaken community-led projects on High Street-Saltmarket and in Laurieston.

The next DRFs will be prepared in consultation with local communities across all four Districts to respond to and enhance their distinctive local character. Working in collaboration with residents, businesses, community, civic and cultural organisations alongside major institutions including the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian University and City of Glasgow College it is intended to develop forward-thinking plans to help shape the future of these vital city centre districts.

The Regeneration Frameworks will establish a planning strategy to respond to opportunities and challenges these Districts face to enhance the quality of life, health and wellbeing of the local communities, economy and the environment.

The Frameworks will capitalise on the area’s rich built and social heritage, diverse local culture and community assets including local businesses, city centre College, Universities and Innovation District. The Frameworks will also address the big challenges facing contemporary society including health, social and economic inequalities, climate change and how the city can renew and recover post-Covid-19.

The Frameworks will promote both local and large scale projects in an action plan considering how to fund and deliver regeneration with short, medium and long term interventions. The Frameworks will be prepared in consultation and collaboration with local communities over the remainder of 2020 and into 2021 with the intention that they will be published in late 2021 / early 2022. Details of how local communities and stakeholders can engage and help shape and influence these future Frameworks will be published in the coming weeks, with updates at www.yourcitycentre.com .

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and City Convener for Inclusive Economic Growth, said: “It’s vital that our city centre is equipped for both the structural changes facing our high streets and the need for carbon neutrality within the next decade.  These shifts are already creating both challenge and opportunity and the district regeneration frameworks will give us the blueprints to renew the beating heart of Glasgow.  A team of leading experts with international and local experience will assist us in shaping that future, whilst retaining the strengths and character we cherish about each district.  We need our communities to come with us so I would urge all those whose neighbourhoods are within the frameworks to get involved in our consultation in the months ahead.”

Graham Ross, architect and urban planner at Austin-Smith:Lord, said: “It’s a great privilege and big responsibility to be taking on the preparation of these Regeneration Frameworks with local communities in these pivotal city centre Districts. Developing distinctive solutions drawing upon the creativity and wisdom of local people, in combination with international best practice, will ensure our city can thrive in the future. We will explore ways in which Glasgow can recover from the impact of Covid-19. We hope to develop imaginative and practical ways to adapt to economic and climate change that deliver enduring and positive regeneration”.

 

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NOTE TO EDITORS

Background Context 

The city centre is one of Glasgow’s most important assets. Glasgow City Council’s City Centre Strategy identifies nine Districts and a series of ‘Avenues’ as the basis of planning and delivering sustainable regeneration across the city centre. Good progress has been made with the first five District Regeneration Frameworks (DRFs) published, and designs for the first two ‘blocks’ of Avenues underway, following the construction of the Sauchiehall Street ‘Avenue’ Pilot.

A DRF is a 10 year regeneration planning framework and action plan. Each District Regeneration Framework will guide physical, social and economic regeneration and may inform Supplementary Planning Guidance (Local Development Frameworks and/or Strategic Development Frameworks as defined in the City Development Plan 2017). The DRFs support the City Development Plan and the City Centre Strategy.

The adopted (Y)our City Centre DRFs promoted an ambitious future vision that includes a River Park along the Clyde, increased city centre living with enhanced community facilities and improvement to walking, cycling and public transport networks to create healthy, sustainable connections between communities and opportunities. The (Y)our Broomielaw DRF secured a Scottish Design Award in 2019.

(Y)our City Centre DRF Team

Glasgow City Council City Centre Regeneration: Client

Austin-Smith:Lord: Lead Consultants / Local Design (Urbanism, Landscape, Architecture)

Studio for New Realities: Urban Strategy Lead, Urbanism

Urban Movement: Urban Mobility – Transport Planning + Active Travel

WAVEparticle: Creative Community Engagement

Civic Engineers: Sustainable Engineering

Stantec: Economic Consultants

Ryden:  Property Advisers

Useful Projects: Urban Sustainability

Space Syntax: Spatial Economics / Data Analysis

For further information please contact > citycentrestrategy@glasgow.gov.uk

We are delighted that planning permission has been received for the enabling works stage of the new Fitzalan High School in Canton, Cardiff.

This marks the next phase in development for the latest project to be delivered under the Cardiff Council and Welsh Government £284m Band B 21stCentury Schools Programme.

The new Fitzalan High School will represent a £63.5m investment in the local community and see the existing school replaced with a new-build school on land next to the Leckwith Stadium.

It will be a 10 form entry school, accommodating up to 1,500 students between the age of 11 and 16, plus a sixth form. The new school will offer comprehensive sports facilities including a multi-use games area, 3G pitches and a new indoor swimming pool, replacing the current pool which is already extensively used by local schools and community groups.

These, and other facilities at the school would be available for public use outside school hours.

The planning permission granted is for the enabling works associated with the project, ahead of the full application for the school. It comprises reprovision and enhancement of existing of sports facilities including pitches and the air dome, as well as two new changing room buildings.

Subject to planning and procurement, construction of the new school is expected to be completed in the 2022/2023 academic year.

Austin-Smith:Lord
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Statement
May 2021

Throughout the pandemic, the practice has continued to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our staff whilst providing the highest levels of service to our clients and seeking to play our part fully in preventing spread of the virus in the wider world context. Decision making and the setting of policy and procedures continues to be undertaken by the Executive Director Board, guided by external specialists.

Our current position is as follows;

We are continuing to work from home, attending essential external meetings and sites when required subject to completion of a satisfactory risk assessment. We are in the final stages of preparation to reopen our studios and anticipate some form of occupation in July. Such occupation will be under the framework of new working methods, physical layouts and health and safety procedures under the guidance and review of our health & safety advisors.

As will be the case with many businesses, in coincidence with our return to our studios, we are keen to adopt lessons learned and new best practice developed around flexible remote working, maximising the potential benefits to efficiency, sustainability, health and wellbeing. In adopting these new practices and our return to our studios, a seamless continuation of service to our clients will be a key focus. In due course, we will publish and communicate our ‘post lockdown’ approach to conducting business and travel, together with guidance for anybody outside of our business that may need to visit our studios.

In the interim, we continue to follow Government and Health Authority advice, keeping abreast of changes to that advice and acting accordingly. We continue to issue advice to our staff on a regular basis, updating them of our own position, any changed policy or procedures and also passing on practical advice received from government and other bodies covering a wide range of topics including health, mental wellbeing and financial matters.

 

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Urban Splash and Places for People have now launched the next phase of homes and workspaces at Park Hill in Sheffield. Almost 300 people came along (with queues starting from 1.30am!) to meet the team and take a look at the plans for the future of this Sheffield icon.

Austin-Smith:Lord were appointed by Urban Splash in 2016 to design and deliver the Landscape Design for Phase 2 of the Park Hill project, working closely with London based architects Mikhail Riches.

Built between 1957 and 1961 by Sheffield City Council to replace slum terraces, Park Hill is one of the most ambitious and iconic developments of its type, famous for its ‘streets in the sky’. The building covers an area of 17 acres and contained around 1,000 flats. In total the whole estate covers 32 acres.

Phase 2 is the continuation of Urban Splash’s redevelopment of the estate which began in 2007, following decades of decline. It will provide 200 new homes and around 2,000m2 of mixed use commercial space, including offices, retail and cafes.

Much of the original iconic landscape infrastructure is still present and in redeveloping the landscape a light touch will be employed, respecting and working with existing terrace levels and retaining as much of the original retaining wall infrastructure as possible, stripping away the tired 1980s and 90s interventions.

The scheme includes comprehensive Public Realm improvements, creation of shared surface access routes, reorganising car parking, and the creation of a resident’s courtyard garden.

 

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For more information and hi-res images please contact:
Surriya Falconer
Falconer Associates
T: 0114 236 2494
M:07770 415262

 

About Urban Splash:

Urban Splash was founded in 1993 by Chairman Tom Bloxham MBE and Creative Director Jonathan Falkingham MBE; the company has spent more than two decades working with world-class architects and designers to restore old buildings and create new, sustainable communities.

Headquartered in Manchester, with regional bases in Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield and Plymouth, the company has invested a billion pounds creating more than 5,000 new homes and jobs in over two million sq ft of commercial space.

It has won more than 420 awards for delivering challenging regeneration projects including; Fort Dunlop in Birmingham, Chimney Pot Park in Salford, Castlefield and New Islington in Manchester, The Midland Hotel in Morecambe, Royal William Yard in Plymouth, Lister Mills in Bradford, Park Hill in Sheffield, Rotunda in Birmingham, Matchworks in South Liverpool and the Ropewalks in Liverpool.

Places for People WWW.PLACESFORPEOPLE.COM

Places for People is a leading placemaker in the UK. It believes that places work when they work for everyone, and these places are designed for the long term, with sustainable value at their core. Delivering social impact by taking a commercial approach is what makes Places for People different.

The JV between Urban Splash and Places for People has 4 regeneration sites; as well as Park Hill in Sheffield there are sites in Bristol, North Shields and Birmingham bringing the strengths of both partners to each project.

The Group’s award-winning, placemaking, property investment, development and management companies are active throughout the UK and collectively have the capability and expertise to create and manage entire places, considering all the things a place needs to become a sustainable community.

Places for People owns or manages more than 197,000 homes, provides services to over 500,000 people, operates over 120 leisure facilities, has assets of £4.5bn, and will be delivering 25,000 new homes in the coming years.

We are delighted that Maelfa Older Persons Independent Living project, a scheme we are developing for Cardiff Council, has received unanimous support at Planning Committee. The project is a part of the ongoing transformation of the Maelfa neighbourhood, with Austin-Smith:Lord having been previously involved in the masterplanning and delivery of mixed used, housing and public realm spaces for the wider regeneration of the area.

The high quality sheltered housing development, consisting of 41 care-ready flats, will provide modern, spacious homes for older people to ensure residents can live a full and active life in an accessible location. The development revolves around interconnected communal spaces to offer opportunities for social interaction and sharing activities.

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The Project Team includes:

Cardiff Council
Austin-Smith:Lord
LRM
White Young Green
Cambria Consulting
DRAC Consulting

Having closely monitored the apparently deteriorating situation regarding the unpredictable spread of coronavirus Austin-Smith:Lord have decided not to send a delegation to Cannes for MIPIM 2020.

We had been anticipating a positive and constructive trip to MIPIM this year. However we do not wish to take unnecessary risks with our team’s health and safety and have decided not to attend.

We hope that the meetings we’d planned for MIPIM can occur at another time. If you wish to discuss our decision or to reschedule a meeting please do not hesitate to contact us.

Austin-Smith:Lord are delighted to be appointed to Pagabo’s Professional Services Framework.

Launching in April, the second generation of the Professional Services Framework anticipates a fee value of £500m over a four year period and will see 77 providers split across 18 service specific lots in seven geographical regions including civil, structural and highways engineering, building services, landscaping and building surveying. Austin-Smith:Lord have been appointed to the lots covering Heritage and Landscape Architectural Design Services.

Simon Toplass, CEO at Pagabo, said: “We were blown away by the number of responses to the tender for this second iteration of our Professional Services framework. It’s been a hugely competitive process due to the record number of applications from well over 200 individual providers.

“The current generation of the framework has enabled close to 700 projects since its inception and is on track to reach its upper limit of £200m. Furthermore, over £141m of social value has been enabled to date.”

Mike Yates and Matthew Dyer from Austin-Smith:Lord attended the framework introductory meetings on 4^th Feb in London and 5^th Feb in Leeds.

The second generation of the Professional Services framework will run for four years, becoming active from April 2020.