Item 1b (8 pages)
12 January 2010
APPLICATION 09/02689/DC
DATE VALID 19.11.2009
SITE ADDRESS
Site At Govan Cross Shopping Centre/Govan Underground/Water Row/ Govan Road Glasgow
PROPOSAL
Public realm improvements including resurfacing, landscaping and installation of street
furniture and use of ground as open air market for a temporary period.
SITE AND DESCRIPTION
The application seeks full planning permission for public realm improvements including resurfacing, landscaping
and installation of street furniture and the use of ground as an open air market for a temporary period until such
times as the site at Water Row, adjoining the civic square, is developed. It has been indicated that a
complimentary lighting scheme will be developed and implemented at a later date.
The application site comprises four main areas of public realm within Govan Town Centre, including: the ‘civic
square’, in the ownership of the Council, and an area of adjoining vacant ground to the north in the ownership of
City Property (Glasgow) LLP; Water Row, also in Council ownership; the area of open space in front of the
underground station and associated with the bus terminus, in the ownership of SPT, and; the open space in
front of Govan Cross Shopping Centre which the Shopping Centre themselves own. The application site also
includes the footpaths directly associated with each of these areas as well as those in the immediate vicinity.
The public realm works incorporate a number of separate but related elements, including the resurfacing of hard
areas, using a combination of Caithness Stone and granite in keeping with the areas historic setting, the
installation of new stainless steel street furniture which will have a unified style and appearance and the
introduction of an area of soft landscaping within the square. As indicated above, it is also hoped to establish
the square as a multi-functional space by enabling the use of part of the space for a temporary market on
Saturdays.
It should be noted that the railings around the disused public toilets are to be removed to facilitate the
improvements. The railings are unlisted and the toilets have been temporarily covered over. A permanent
solution involving the infilling of the toilets is currently being investigated. It is not proposed to reinstate the
railings in their original position following the works and instead they will be placed in storage for possible future
alternative use within Govan town centre.
The cost of the works is approximately £2million and will be jointly funded mainly by Glasgow City Council, the
Scottish Government and the Heritage Lottery.
The Central Govan Action Plan and Govan Townscape Heritage Teams responsible for the promotion and
delivery of the public realm improvements undertook a consultation exercise, engaging with people who live and
work in Govan. Over 500 surveys were issued to local residents, meetings were held with key organisations,
two public meetings took place and a study tour to Edinburgh looking at successful public spaces was also
organised. The results of the extensive consultation were subsequently fed back to the Design Team who have
attempted to incorporate the significant common themes into the overall design.
The exercise highlighted a number of principle issues and themes which people wished to be addressed
through the proposed improvements or incorporated into the overall scheme. The exercise produced ambitious
results which were summarised into a series of aims for the main areas which at times had competing
requirements. These were: enhanced views to the river; provision of an obvious route from the subway to the
proposed ferry; visual linking of the public spaces and the market area; enhanced profile and position of the
market, including the provision of a marquee, stalls and Christmas tree; provision of vandal proof seating and
incorporation of children’s play; increased green space; retention of the restored fountain; incorporation of
historical interpretation and artwork, and; lighting.
With regard to the proposed public realm works, it is sought to re-establish and define the function of the town
square as a meaningful and useable civic space which people of live and work in Govan can identify with and
relate to and to create a cohesive and identifiable town centre by establishing a clear visual relationship with the
adjacent public spaces on the opposite side of Govan Road.
This is achieved through the use of a limited palette of good quality surfacing materials throughout all areas.
The main paved surfaces will be constructed of Caithness stone and granite setts, walls and steps will be pale
grey granite and engraved panels for artwork are a finer grained grey granite which compliments the Caithness.
The design for the main square reflects the demands made of what will be a well used civic space and will
provide a setting for the listed church building, which is a significant feature in historical photographs of Govan
town square. It also reserves an area for a proposed marquee which will be erected on market days to provide
shelter to some of the market stalls and customers. Within this area, an interactive sundial has been
incorporated into the paving which allows the time to be read from the shadow of a person standing in the
centre. This will allow active use of this space whilst not required for the market.
The square will accommodate the restored fountain (subject of a separate application for listed building consent)
and a ground based labyrinth feature which provides the opportunity for engraved granite panels illustrating
local historical events and art work, the designs of which will be created through projects to be facilitated by
CGAP and GCTHI.
There will also be an area of soft landscaping which shall allow the retention of two existing trees and the
introduction of low level planting beds. The area directly to the north of the square, in the ownership of
City Property (Glasgow) LLP, will be re-surfaced with tarmac to allow its continued use by the market until such
times as the site is re-developed. The market will operate each Saturday between the hours of 9.00 am and
3.00 pm. The northern boundary of the square as it meets the temporary market area will be defined by a low
level wall.
The two other main public spaces will be treated in a similar manner to the square itself in terms of the palette of
materials and street furniture, however, the design of these areas will be much simpler and more regular than
that of the principal civic square, although it is intended to incorporate historical interpretation and artwork in
both areas. These details have not yet been finalised due to the very restricted timescales and can be dealt with
through the imposition of appropriate conditions.
With regard to Water Row, this ‘street’ has been highlighted as being extremely important, not only in terms of
its historical significance but also in relation to its future role in providing both a visual and a physical link to the
River Clyde and destinations beyond Govan. As such, it is intended to upgrade Water Row but not by replacing
the surface but instead by lifting and re-instating the existing setts to improve its condition. This will represent a
major step forward in re-establishing and strengthening the route from the town centre to the river front and
potential ferry terminal.
Surrounding footpaths associated with the public spaces and their immediate environs within the town centre
have been included in the application to provide a wider setting for these areas.
It should be noted that preventative measures, the topography of the site, technical requirements and the brief
itself have presented competing, and at times conflicting, issues that required resolution through careful design
and compromise.