GCV Green Network
Connecting Our Quality Spaces

Milton is a peripheral housing estate on the northern edge of Glasgow.  The vast majority of housing stock in Milton is social rented and the area has been subject to significant change over the years. 

As with many large estates on the edge of the city these changes have resulted in a reduction of the housing stock through demolition resulting in large areas of open space being left over.

These spaces are for the most part mown grass and have low function, visual appeal and biodiversity value. The spaces also add to negative perceptions of the area for local people, visitors and businesses.

The Glasgow & Clyde Valley (GCV) Green Network Partnership brought together organisations with an interest in developing a Green Network Strategy to look at the enhancement of open space associated with social housing. 

While the focus of this work is in Milton, the aim is to develop learning and explore different opportunities which can be adopted by participating agencies. It is hoped such opportunities may then be replicated across the Glasgow & Clyde Valley (GCV) region in social housing areas.

The solutions proposed are likely to range in scale and include:

• Short term, low cost solutions which may be delivered within existing budgets and through changes to management (e.g. creation of wildflower meadows, new paths, seats);
• Medium term solutions which may provide green infrastructure for future land uses (e.g. tree planting, hedgerows, youth shelters, lighting);
• Longer term and more costly solutions which will provide significant community benefit (e.g. growing spaces, play spaces); and
• Temporary opportunities to seek community benefit from underused land until such times as it is required for development;