Climate Ready Park, Bishopbriggs Concept Design Consultation

The consultation will run from 15 July to 13 August 2021.

Residents are being invited to provide comments on the concept design for the Climate Ready Park at Woodhill (Greenhill) and Etive Parks in Bishopbriggs.

This project was first consulted on in May 2019 and we would like to thank all those who commented and made suggestions at that time. Taking on board the comments from this initial consultation, hydraulic assessment and ground investigation works carried out in August 2020 resulted in changes being made to the original layout.  

Our partner Stantec has produced updated concept landscape design plans which incorporate the finding of the preliminary works. The community is now being invited to provide their thoughts on the design before the project moves to the detailed design stage and a planning application is submitted in Autumn 2021.

The project aims to create an interesting, colourful, sustainable greenspace for the community of Bishopbriggs which includes adaptations for our changing climate.   

By creating areas where storm water can temporarily be stored within the parks, we want to make a greenspace that makes the surrounding neighbourhood more resilient to climate change by reducing the impact of surface water flooding such as that seen during the storm of June 2018. Small depressions in the ground, such as detention basins and swales, will capture and temporarily store surface water runoff. These features will be a mixture of maintained grass with areas planted with suitable native wetland plants.

As part of the analysis to design the storm water features, our partner Stantec, has run flooding models for a range of rainfall return periods to determine how surface water run-off will behave under a number of different scenarios. It is predicted our climate will become warmer and wetter with extreme rainfall events becoming more frequent during summer months. Two of the scenarios from the model can be downloaded from the documents section. The darker the blue the greater the modelled volume and depth of surface water in these areas.  

The 1 in 100 year flood event represents a rainfall event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. The 1 in 200 year flood event has a 0.5% chance of occurring and this scenario also includes an allowance for climate change. These plans show worst case scenario flood events but also show the proposed storm water features holding surface water within safe areas in the park resulting in minimising flood risk. The scheme will be future proofed against predicted increase in climate change and will play a vital role in delivering some of our surface water management objectives in Bishopbriggs.

There is a focus on naturalising the park’s landscape to improve biodiversity, create habitat for local wildlife and provide a more interesting space for people. Wildflower meadows, avenue tree planting, pollinator friendly bulbs and a central ‘climate ready forest’ within Woodhill (Greenhill) Park are all proposed. The ‘climate ready forest’ is based on the design of the ‘The Resilience Garden’ which was commissioned by Forestry Commission for Chelsea Flower Show in 2019. The trees and plants used in the garden are both native and exotic and were chosen to thrive in different habitats which mimic existing climate conditions and probable conditions following the effects of climate change.

The existing underused blaes pitch in Etive Park will be transformed into an allotment site including space for horticulture training and accessible beds for those who use a wheelchair or have limited mobility. The Council and its partners will promote healthy living workshops for the community and schools. An amenity grass kick-about area with mini-goals at Etive Park will replace the existing blaes pitch.

Interpretation and gateway  features will make the park more welcoming and engaging by providing enhanced entrances into the park and creating a stronger sense of identity.

A second phase of works include proposals for a BMX track and an upgrade of the existing play area.  

The designs are presented as pdf documents and can be downloaded from the documents sections of the page. If you would like paper copies please contact greenspace@eastdunbarton.gov.uk and provide your name and address and we will post these out to you. The designs will also be available to view at the Betterbriggs Office (next to Costa).

Please submit all feedback on the designs to greenspace@eastdunbarton.gov.uk by Friday 13 August 2021.

View our FAQs below:

Who is involved in this project?

East Dunbartonshire Council is leading the project with their environmental consultants Stantec. East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action will also be a key partner in continued community and project development.

Who is funding the Climate Ready Park?

Funding will be provided by Nature Scot via the Green Infrastructure Fund subject to the project successfully receiving planning permission. Match funding will be provided by East Dunbartonshire Council.

Do you have planning permission for the works?

No, a full planning application will be submitted in Autumn 2021. The planning process will provide further opportunity for residents to make formal comment on the proposals.

Will the proposals impact access to the park?

During construction, certain areas of the park will be closed off to the public to ensure their safety. Once complete, the allotment area will only be accessible to plotholders and those attending training events being held at the plots. The remainder of the parks will remain publicly accessible.

Will the proposals reduce surface water flooding in the area?

Part of the project’s aim is to minimise the impact of flooding in the area and make the area more resilient to climate change.

The park provides us with the opportunity to provide additional capacity to store water in times of extreme rainfall events such as those experienced in June 2018.  The proposed basin areas will help minimise flood risk in the area from all sources by reducing the pressure on the existing drainage systems. In addition, the incorporation of roadside swales to capture water run-off from sloped park areas will reduce overland flow flooding.

Will the detention basins hold water all year round?

No, the basins are designed to only store water temporarily during storm events and periods of extreme rainfall. They will be dry for most of the year, although they may be damp underfoot at times.

Will the detention basins be fenced or have a barrier?

Provisions for fencing the basins have not been made as these features will not permanently hold water. However, the wetland planting at the edges will create a vegetated zone to delineate the boundary of the basin feature.

How deep will the detention basins be?

The basins will be designed with shallow sloping sides and are not expected to be more than 150cm below existing ground level at their deepest points. The detailed design stage will determine the final depths of these features.

Will the detention basins attract rats and/or flies due to temporary holding of water?

The basins are not designed to permanently hold water nor will they at any time hold sewage and there is no attraction (e.g. food source) for such species. Similar schemes have not been known to attract rats or flies.

Why is there a need for allotments when surrounding residents have gardens?

The Council holds an allotment waiting list which indicates a demand for allotments and food growing within Bishopbriggs.

How can I apply for a plot in the proposed allotments?

The Council currently has a waiting list for allotment plots. See the Allotment Waiting List Request webform.

Is lighting proposed as part of the project?

Lighting is not part of the proposal.

When are the works scheduled to be completed?

Phase 1 of construction is scheduled to commence in Spring 2022 and be completed by Spring 2023. Phase 2 is expected to be completed by 2023/24.

Will you produce artist impressions of the proposals?

Yes, as part of our planning application we intend to produce a minimum of two visualisations of the proposals to give residents a better understanding of what the final design will look like when completed.

What has been changed as a result of the May 2019 consultation, hydraulic assessment and ground investigation works?

• The allotment has been relocated to the blaes pitch with associated access track designed.
• The location, shape and size of the detention basins have been altered and reduced. Additional features have been added to capture surface water run-off from sloped edges.
• Proposals for the orchard and foraging sites have been removed. Tree planting will instead take the form of native avenue planting throughout the site.
• Wildflower meadows are proposed across more of the site to add diversity and colour. These can also slow the rate of water run-off from sloped areas.
• A central focal point ‘climate forest’ has also been added to Woodhill (Greenhill) Park
• Artwork features are also now proposed, these will be designed with local communities and schools.

Will I still be able to use the slopes at Woodhill (Greenhill) Park for sledging in the winter?

Yes.

How will my feedback on the proposals be used?

All responses are to be compiled and reviewed by the project team only. This feedback will input into the developing the project detailed design proposals which will be submitted as part of the planning application for determination by the Council’s Planning Board.