Item 6
15th June 2009
SPRINGBURN PARK
Purpose of Report:
To update Committee on the progress of the options appraisal study for Springburn Park and report initial outcomes.
Recommendations:
Committee is asked to note the content of the report.
1. Introduction
1.1 Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT) was engaged in March 2008 to carry out a study
in Springburn Park to investigate the future of the Winter Gardens, Mosesfield House, and the
wider context of the entire park.
The purpose of the study was twofold; to explore the opportunities to improve and develop
Springburn Park in its entirety for the benefit of the local community, including the use of
Mosesfield House and the sports and recreational facilities, and to examine the opportunities
for the future development of the derelict Winter Gardens and Walled Garden.
In addition to this, GBPT was asked to investigate the provision of a new building within the
park which would support and encourage community recreational use, and include provision
for the bowling clubs within the park.
1.2 Along with GBPT as main consultants, the project team included:
• Ian White Associates (landscape assessment of the park)
• Page/Park Architects
• EKOS (economic analysis, business planning, key stakeholder consultation)
• Gardiner & Theobald (cost consultants)
• Jacobs Engineers (structural engineers)
It should be noted that some of the above organisations have contributed considerably more
resources to this project than were originally costed for, at no additional cost to the Council.
The original timescale for the completion of the report was autumn 2008, but the complex nature
of the report and the consultation carried out meant that the final draft was not delivered to Land and
Environmental Services until the end of March 2009. Land and Environmental Services await the final
business planning parts of the report to enable completion.
2. Process
2.1 The first stage of the study evaluated the park as a whole, its context and community
aspirations for the park.
2.2 The next stage involved addressing the bowling facilities and establishing how they could be
developed further to align with community and bowling club users’ aspirations through a new
proposed pavilion provision in the park.
2.3 The third stage focused on two key historic buildings – the Winter Gardens and Mosesfield
House – establishing their condition, repairs required and potential end use.
2.4 The fourth stage was community and stakeholder consultation to establish what may be the
desirable priorities. The consultation was carried out on 7 and 10 November 2008 in Glasgow
North Conference Centre, Ayr Street. On 7 November, the consultation was open from
1.30 pm until 5.00 pm, and on 10 November, it was open from 1.30 pm until 8.00 pm.
2.5 The final stage brought the findings of all of the above together and integrated detailed
evaluations and costs where relevant.
3. Key Findings
3.1 Springburn Park
A landscape assessment of the park has been carried out. Proposals for the landscape
development of the park are significant but achievable. They include:
• rationalisation of the tree and shrub cover to allow views of the park and the city, and
make space accessible and useable
• distinction between vehicular and pedestrian access
• creation of a new main entrance adjacent to the hospital
• incorporating the existing ponds into a new water feature, around the main entrance
• opening up some elements of the barriers around the bowling greens, Mosesfield House
and recreational space, creating a central ‘plaza’
• responding to the context of the surrounding environment – hospital, transportation links
and routes, links to other community spaces.
It is hoped that, following discussion with the Area Management team, a programme of
improvement works can be started in the coming months.
3.2 Springburn Winter Gardens
Local people feel strongly that the dereliction of the Winter Gardens is the main detractor of
the park, and would wish to see it restored.
• the building is Category A listed which emphasises national level significance to Scotland
• Several uses have been explored in the study, and these could possibly be further
developed. However, the conclusion is that the building should be repaired to a formal
glasshouse and uses could include a national and international events space, retail, plant
collections, play area
• development may be on a part community, part commercial basis
• the walled gardens adjacent to the Winter Gardens should become an
allotments/community garden site
• the estimated construction cost of repair and refurbishment is £4.67 million
3.3 Mosesfield House
The building is of major significance predating the park.
• it is Category B listed
• the building is largely intact and requires careful conservation repairs
• there are a number of possible uses for the building, dependant on the development plan
for the entire park, and relocation of the existing users within the park
• uses could include community education and social use, conferences, office space,
museum
• the construction cost for the proposed refurbishment is £2.3 million
3.4 Community Recreation Pavilion
The consultants were asked to look at the issue of accommodation for the various bowling
clubs and the potential to create a new community recreation pavilion at the bowling club site,
which would integrate all the bowling clubs. During the course of the study, the
accommodation issue for Stobhill Bowling Club has moved past occupation of an integrated
building, and work is currently underway to fund a stand alone building for Stobhill Bowling
Club on this site.
Notwithstanding this, the consultants have put forward a proposal for a building which could
be delivered in phases according to need or resources.
The construction cost for all phases which would include bowling club accommodation for
Stobhill Bowling Club and the other four public clubs playing from Springburn Park, attendant
space, community space (which could accommodate the workers club currently in Mosesfield
House, kitchen, public indoor and outdoor seating, and public toilets is £2.3million. The
construction cost for one bowling pavilion is £595,180.
4. The next stage
A business plan for Mosesfield House is currently being drawn up based on community usage.
GBPT are currently working on a prioritised delivery plan, recommending which elements of the work should be carried out and in what order in the event that funding is available.
GBPT has identified potential funders, although no firm commitment has been received as yet for funding for any element of this work. If proposals are to be taken forward, discussions will have to take place with a number of potential funders and a funding package will have to be put in place.
ROBERT BOOTH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
4 JUNE 2009
Springburn Park was created in 1892 when the Corporation of Glasgow purchased land at the top of Balgrayhill, chiefly from the owners of Old Mosesfield House and Cockmuir House. There was an old quarry at one corner of the land, and this was formed into a rock garden.
Other features of the park were the rustic bridge, the winter gardens, the bandstand, the boating pond and the cricket pitch. Although the bandstand is long gone, and the winter gardens are in a state of dereliction, work has been done on the park in recent years including the restoration of the rockery, the only reminder that Springburn was once a mining and quarrying area.
The park has also accommodated a weather station since 1896, with official reports being sent to the Meteorological Office in Edinburgh since 1913. However, cutbacks in staff saw the staff replaced by an automatic climate data logger in 1993.
Source: Glasgow City Archives
