Oatlands



The Oatlands area is situated about 2.5 kilometres south east of Glasgow city centre. It covers an area of around 60 hectares. As can be seen from the above map (dated circa 1934), this area is bounded by the River Clyde to the North; by a main railway line to the South; an industrial area and the Southern Necropolis to the West; and by the Rutherglen district and Polmadie Industrial estate to the East. The neighbourhood lies between an area known as the Gorbals, and the city boundary at Rutherglen.

Oatlands has had a very limited history as a particular district. From reference to a map of the Gorbals area in 1858, it was clear that Oatlands was still substantially a rural area with two or threesmall farms, a large country house: Polmadie House, the Govan Colliery and some evidence of clay-pits from former brickmaking industries.However later maps show that large numbers of tenemental properties had been constructed by 1934, and it is also clear that these remaineduntil the 1960's and 1970's when the area was fully developed.Thereafter, the area declined and all of the old properties had been finallyremoved by 1997.

Oatlands is close to the City centre with excellent opportunities to develop walking and cycling links of around 2.5km between the district and other desirable shopping and leisure attractions in town.It is also adjacent to a proposed motorway extension, a valuable attraction for commercial and small business developers who would bring a measure of new employment to the district.

The proposed development area is primarily residential at the moment, however the area is bounded to the south by an industrial band, including the British Oxygen Company (BOC), Scottish Beef, the Polmadie Industrial Estate, and other smaller enterprises.Oatlands has undergone a substantial period of demolition, culminating in 1997 with the removal of the last of the red sandstone tenements fronting on to Rutherglen road.

Between the cleared housing area and the River Clyde, lies Richmond Park. Many factors have contributed to the parks demise, but the end point is that it is either unused or unsuitable for recreational activities. This park has great potential, and in tandem with the residential/commercial development, the current development plan proposes that the amenities and facilities in the park shall be substantially augmented.The site currently has about 400 dwellings remaining. It is unsure if these shall be kept and refurbished, or demolished.

Since the early 1990’s this area has been incorporated in many development proposals, with the scale of development becoming more and more ambitious in every one. In April 1999 the Oatlands Steering Group was established to bring together all relevant agencies and local community groups to work towards the regeneration of Oatlands.

After our initial study of the site and the design guide, a number of ideas and recommendations were made to Glasgow City Council, with a view to bringing elements of sustainablity into the development.

These initial recommendations were individually very brief in content, but covered a wide range of aspects.



External Reference Links:

  1. http://www.mitchelllibrary.org/cgi-bin/vm/main.plx
    The Glasgow Mitchell Library Picture Collection.
  2. http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/html/about/aindex.htm
    Facts and figures and Information on the history of the City of Glasgow.