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Proposed Mixed Use Development, Braehead : Socio-Economic Impact Report the strategy for regeneration on the Clyde Waterfront would still be at a relatively early stage. Similarly, without assurances as to the future long-term success of Braehead as a thriving economic catalyst, the next phase of regeneration of the Clyde Waterfront would be severely hindered. 2.6 The Spatial Development Strategy of the SDP includes five ‘Spatial Frameworks’, relating to competitiveness, environmental action, sustainable communities, infrastructure, and strategic development priorities. As an introduction to the section which addresses the issue of sustainable communities, paragraph 4.64 of the SDP explains that the future economic growth and quality of life in the city-region depends on being able to meet basic demands and needs for the community, such as ensuring easy access to good quality housing and shopping facilities. These needs should be met in the most sustainably accessible locations, predominantly on brownfield land. This means focusing on regeneration and renewal of existing communities, and investing in the urban centres which are at the core of existing communities. 2.7 Paragraph 4.96 of the SDP notes that the traditional role of the urban centre is usually characterised by their retail and civic functions, but that the role and function of many of the urban centres in the SDP area are changing and evolving in response to retail market demand and trends in society change. Many urban centres have become multi-dimensional in nature, with multiple roles, although each centre tends to have identifiable dominant roles which vary from centre to centre. Paragraph 4.97 identifies Braehead as being dominant in regeneration and retailing. 2.8 Paragraph 4.98 explains that certain urban centres in the SDP area have been identified as having key strategic roles, and it is these centres which have been included in a ‘Network of Strategic Centres’ which are regarded as central to delivering the SDP’s Spatial Vision through its Spatial Development Strategy. These centres have a mixed use focus which consists of the following uses, features and activities: retail, culture, education, leisure, health, public realm, local governance, and public transport. Paragraph 4.99 stresses that Glasgow City Centre is at the apex of this network of strategic centres, and that its longterm future is fundamental to the economic well-being of the city-region. 2.9 At the same time, while continuing investment and modernisation is required in the City Centre, the wider network of strategic centres beyond the City Centre “equally needs to be protected and enhanced” (paragraph 4.101), with a “channelling of investment to secure their respective roles, improve their quality of offer, their diversity, their public realm and environment, and their continuing sustainable accessibility”. 2.10 Schedule 12 in the SDP sets out the Network of Strategic Centres, and lists their roles and functions and the strategy for managing change. Braehead is one of 23 strategic centres identified in the network. P4 3366706v3
Proposed Mixed Use Development, Braehead: Socio-Economic Impact Report SDP Approach to Braehead 2.11 Under the heading ‘Current Planning Status / Dominant Roles and Functions’, Schedule 12 of the SDP describes Braehead as a ‘commercial centre with retail, leisure, commercial, employment and business’. Under the heading of ‘Challenges’, the SDP identifies the need to diversify and roles and functions of the centre in support of the Clyde Waterfront regeneration initiative, with the aim of incorporating a range of functions including residential, civic, and transport and leisure sectors. The purpose of this development of Braehead is stated as being in order to “maintain the sustainability of the centre and wider regeneration programme, thereby contributing to a Strategic Development Priority – Clyde Waterfront”. The identified future action for Braehead is to bring forward a masterplan for a further regeneration of the centre and wider environment. 2.12 Thus the vision for Braehead is to maintain its role of regenerating the surrounding area, as it has been doing for 15 years, with its retail, leisure, commercial, employment and business roles broadened to include residential and civic functions and expansion of transport and leisure facilities. In reality the residential role for Braehead is already well established, with more than 1,000 homes recently built in the vicinity to the north and south of Kings Inch Road, and many more planned and consented. 2.13 Background Report 11 – Retailing and Town Centres – (BR11) is one of a number of background papers which were prepared to support the Main Issues Report of the SDP. Subsequently a shorter version of the same document, renumbered BR14, was prepared to explain in more detail the policy approaches adopted by the SDP and to provide additional technical background information. These background papers were submitted to Scottish Ministers with the proposed SDP so that Ministers could have a full understanding of the evolution and intentions of the Plan. 2.14 BR11 explains the background to the policy approach adopted for Braehead. BR11 notes that Braehead is the second-largest centre in the plan area, after Glasgow City Centre. In section 4.16 is states, “The role and function of Braehead is of vital importance. This commercial centre forms its own extensive catchment and draws expenditure from much of Glasgow and the Clyde Valley, and beyond. It is clearly of a strategic scale, but as a commercial centre it would be accorded less sequential priority than identified town centres. This issue needs to be addressed”. 2.15 Having recognised the policy anomaly affecting Braehead, whereby the secondlargest strategic centre in the SDP area would have a planning status subordinate to many smaller and less important centres, BR11 continues by examining three possibilities for a policy resolution for Braehead. The three options discussed are: 1 designation as a strategic town centre; 2 having equivalence to other strategic centres but remaining as a commercial centre; or 3366706v3 P5
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