We are rolling out a consultation on the future of Govan Graving Docks. We wish to engage stakeholders and others with an interest in the derelict Glasgow site, at both local, regional and national level and within the maritime sector, in shaping an alternative vision for its future.
Our consultation process recognises that the site is of national and international significance, much wider than just the Govan council ward, but it is essential that regeneration of the site makes a significant long-term contribution to the local economy and social inclusion in Govan. This can only be done by creating diverse, sustainable skilled employment and training opportunities for the long term - not just a few low-paid, dead-end retail and hospitality jobs - and by accommodating independently run social enterprises (owned in Govan) rather than for example major chain fast food restaurants and coffee shops. We have already seen the Braehead Clydebult Museum being forced to close down and become a dougnut cafe and we aim to avoid a repeat of this experience in Govan.
Enough time needs to be taken to properly consider the future of this historic site and so the consultation and planning process cannot and should not be accelerated.
The process needs to consider more than just the impact of development on the immediate neighbourhood and address a much wider dimension.
Through consultation we aim to:
Early in 2016 we ran a series of online survey questionnaires, to gather views on the future of Govan Graving Docks, as the first stage of our consultation process.
You can find the results of these on our reference page.
A series of online petitions have enabled us to gauge the depth and breadth of public feeling about the future of Govan Graving Docks.
Along with the results of the surveys these petitions, particularly the comments left by people who signed them, have enabled us to demonstrate strong public opposition to housing development on the docks.
In March 2017 we set up stalls in Govan to hand out leaflets to help raise local awareness of the plight of Govan Graving Docks, and speak to locals face to face about the site.
We found people overwhelmingly opposed to housing development on the docks and very much in favour of creating a maritime park and seeing ships in the docks once again.
We are preparing to run a design competition for final year degree architecture students (and possibly others) to present masterplan proposals for a maritime park at Govan Graving Docks as the key stage of our consultation process.
The competition entries will feed into the next stage of our consultation process through exhibitions and public/stakeholder feedback. For more information see the competition page...
