Plans to build a garden on top of a section of the M8 in Glasgow are getting closer to reality as council bosses try to win £50 million for the scheme.
They are preparing a bid for UK Government Levelling Up funding, which would create a public space cap over the motorway between Sauchiehall Street and Bath Street.
The council said it would make a “peaceful green space” and the “proposal is to completely reconfigure the Charing Cross area in terms of transport and public realm.”
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It comes alongside six other bids being submitted to the Government to get funding for the refurbishment of the People’s Palace and regeneration of Maryhill, Easterhouse and Drumchapel town centres.
The two other bids are creating a liveable neighbourhood in Possilpark and a ‘Clyde Connectivity’ project to link the community "with the QEUH, SEC and Glasgow City Centre to the wider West of Scotland economic area.” There is no guarantee they will be successful, however.
The project proposals were approved by councillors at the City Administration Committee to proceed to round two of the funding process yesterday.
Council leader Susan Aitken said the “projects are developing their bid very quickly at pace.”
The SNP councillor added: “None of this money is guaranteed but what we have done is work to try and get us into a position where we have the highest likelihood of success across all these bids.”
The meeting heard other funding motions for the bids will be explored if they are not successful.
Labour councillor Frank McAveety said: “Let’s grab the opportunity while we can to get as much for the city as we can.”
Labour councillor Maureen Burke welcomed the potential investment for her North East ward but raised concerns about lack of consultation and called for more details.
Some details of the bids for each area were included in a council paper presented at yesterday's meeting.
The regeneration of Easterhouse would see improvements of the Lochs Shopping Centre building, public space makeovers at key access points, including the car park and public entrances and enhancements of the active travel routes.
Possilpark plans would focus on the regeneration of Saracen Street, Stonyhurst and Allander Streets, a number of brownfield sites and the creation of a new urban park at Cowlairs along with other improvements.
Maryhill could be developed through a green infrastructure strategy and improved active travel links to city wide cycle and walking routes and the local canal.
Revealing more about proposals for Drumchapel, the council paper said there would be regeneration of the “designated Drumchapel Town Centre focused on the shopping centre, its immediate environs and wider connectivity to improve accessibility and patronage” among other measures.
Conservative Councillor Thomas Kerr said: "It is great to see the SNP administration give their backing to the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund. This funding could transform our city as we recover from the pandemic and support our communities as well as investing in the iconic People's Palace.
"People across Glasgow just want to see improvements to the communities they live in and it is fantastic that the UK Government are stepping up and delivering millions for Glasgow. We have already seen that with the Pollok Country Stables and these list of projects can also bring new opportunities for those communities that need it the most.”
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