Milngavie Public Realm Strategy

Strategic moves and development opportunities

Completed in 2021, Page\Park has supported Milngavie BID, a community organisation formed of stakeholders and representatives of local businesses, to develop a public realm strategy for Milngavie.

This relationship between Page\Park and Milngavie BID began in 2018 when Page\Park was approached to develop proposals for an artwork at the start of the West Highland Way. Page\Park subsequently supported Milngavie BID to deliver a further phase of streetscape improvements in 2021. In parallel with this streetscape project, Page\Park was appointed to develop a public realm strategy for Milngavie, considering the wider strategic moves, and identifying short and long term economic development opportunities.

Analysis and consultation

The public realm study project commenced with an extensive period of research and analysis. This comprised historical, contemporary and experiential aspects, and we endeavoured to walk and record every aspect of the town ‘experience’, to more accurately assess how it functions. We analysed circulation, transport, and use of public space, in addition to undertaking an extensive audit of the public realm.

In April 2021, we ran a public consultation exercise to gather feedback on the existing town centre and pedestrianised precinct, and invite suggestions for improvements, with the benefit of local knowledge and experience. This exercise had a strong response rate – 333 persons in total – and gave us a reliable impression of patterns of movement in the town.

Proposals

From this analysis and consultation, we developed a series of proposals, identifying specific sites and opportunities for investment – 57 potential projects in total. Some are long term aspirations with more complex delivery, but we believe that many should be deliverable incrementally at a scale comparable to recent small projects in the town centre.

We recognised the energy that the community has towards improving the town, and firmly believe that a public realm strategy that they, along with the BID, can take ownership of would be the most effective end result from this project.

Proposals

Our proposals were based on what we felt were four key areas for improvement:

Circulation in the heart of the town is fundamental – Almost all circulation in Milngavie flows in some way through a figure of eight in the town centre. It links almost all the cultural, leisure and historical assets, and is well served in the wider public transport network. With strategic incremental investment in targeted areas, the loop has the potential to attract and then effectively distribute locals and visitors to all major points of interest in Milngavie.

Protect and enhance the green spine along the river – The green corridor of riverside parkland is a busy arterial route for walking, connecting the town to Mugdock Park and the WHW to the north, and to Glasgow in the south. Under-utilised as an asset in the town, improved connections into the green spaces and more positive engagement between town and river as it passes through the centre would stimulate use.

Make the green leisure assets accessible to everyone – An overwhelming majority of residents told us both that they have been using their local green spaces more during lockdown, and that they expect these habits to continue in the long term. With that directive in mind, we should safeguard green spaces and endeavour to increase visibility and accessibility for all user groups, with better connections, clearer wayfinding, and improved core paths.

The wider town’s ribs of circulation are equally important – Milngavie’s primary routes converge in the centre, but equally important are the secondary roads and paths that connect the large swathes of residential development into the main arteries of the town. We have to look after these individual segments, and ensure the wider network of streets maintain a healthy two-way relationship with the primary circulation.

Project Info

Overview

Client
Milngavie BID

Location
Milngavie

Completion
November 2021

Milngavie Public Realm Strategy

Strategic moves and development opportunities

Analysis and consultation

Proposals

Proposals

Project Info

Overview

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