Ravenscraig
Murray Collins, Planning & Development Manager for Ravenscraig Ltd, explains how planning the new Ravenscraig has focused on ensuring a distinct identity which helps create a place where people will want to live and work.
Ravenscraig differs from many other town centre regeneration projects in Scotland as there is currently no town centre there – indeed, Ravenscraig, based on the site of the former steelworks in Lanarkshire, will be the country’s first new town in more than 50 years.
This “clean sheet” has enabled an integrated, consistent approach to developing the environment which sets the highest standard in urban design and architecture.
This will be achieved through detailed area planning briefs and design code guidelines (available on our website) which establish high-quality design principles that all developers must adhere to.
These reflect the objectives of the masterplan, which details how the project will build a modern environment with a distinct identity and real sense of place and community where people will want to live and work. As a result, Ravenscraig will be characterised as a welcoming, attractive, safe, accessible and pedestrian-friendly place.
Given the scale of the project – it is one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe – adherence to the carefully thought through planning briefs and design guides will be essential in creating and maintaining a sense of place.
Ravenscraig covers 450 hectares (1,125 acres) - an area equivalent to 13 London Canary Wharfs, 700 football pitches or twice the size of Monaco. The town will become home to over 10,000 people, and is expected to create 12,000 jobs and attract in excess of £1.2 billion of private sector investment over the next 15 to 20 years.
In May 2008, global construction and management consultancy Turner & Townsend was appointed project managers for the second phase of development. A further investment of some £600 million will create a new town centre consisting of around 1 million sq ft of retail, leisure, restaurant and community facilities in a modern, attractive centre. Some 1500 housing units and 500,000 sq ft of commercial space will also be created as part of this phase. It will be served by a new railway station, a bus interchange, and have substantial car parking with dual carriageway access from both the M8
Sustainability is a central factor in all our planning and will be the key to ensuring a better life for everyone at Ravenscraig, now and for future generations. Achieving this involves a commitment from Ravenscraig Ltd to recognise the needs of everyone, protect the environment, use natural resources responsibly and maintain economic growth and employment.
Again, these values are enshrined in the masterplan, our area planning briefs and the design code guidelines.
For more information:
Murray Collins, Planning & Development Manager
Ravenscraig Ltd C/O Capella Group,
22 Blythswood Square, Glasgow G2 4BG
T: 0141 221 2425
E:
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W: www.ravenscraig.co.uk
