Cardonald’s Greenspace Transformation Boosts Community Happiness

The transformation of underused greenspace in Cardonald has brought about a surge in neighbourhood satisfaction, according to a recent residents’ survey. The £2.6 million project, spearheaded by Southside Housing Association in collaboration with Glasgow City Council, has rejuvenated the land beside high-rise flats at Queensland Court and Gardens into a vibrant community park with sustainable drainage measures to mitigate flood risks.

The survey, conducted by Research Resource on behalf of Southside Housing Association, uncovered a significant increase in residents perceiving their neighbourhood as a ‘very good’ or ‘good place to live’, rising from 68% to an impressive 90% post-park construction.

The joint effort between Southside Housing Association and Glasgow City Council, supported by the Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership (MGSDP), is a crucial phase of the Hillington and Cardonald Surface Water Management Plan. The new community park boasts an outdoor socializing space, informal woodland, dedicated toddler and children’s play areas, a bicycle pump track, and cycle storage facilities to promote active travel.

In addition to enhancing community spaces, the project focuses on sustainable drainage measures inspired by nature, such as raingardens, basins, and swales, to decrease localised flood risks. The inclusion of these elements has not only improved the physical environment but has also catalysed health and social benefits.

Compared to a baseline survey from 2020, the use of greenspace at Queensland Court and Gardens has surged from 35% to 64%, with 30% of respondents now venturing outdoors in their local area for fresh air 4-7 times a week. This increase in outdoor activity has positively impacted social connections, with 38% of participants reporting daily interactions with individuals other than their household members.

The project’s success has been recognised through its contribution to addressing the climate emergency and its provision of an accessible, open space for residents. The award-winning landscape design, commended by Building with Nature and the Landscape Institute, further underscores the project’s excellence.

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of Glasgow City Region Cabinet, expressed her delight in the positive reception of the community park, emphasising the ease of outdoor socialisation and play for residents. She also highlighted the project’s environmental impact, specifically the reduction of surface water flooding risks through nature-based solutions on-site.

Alex Cameron, chair of Southside Housing Association, echoed the sentiment of success reflected in the survey results, emphasising the tangible benefits accrued by residents through this collaborative effort. He underscored the value of such investments in enhancing the local environment and enriching the lives of those utilizing the space.

Both the UK and Scottish Governments are demonstrating their commitment to region-wide development through the provision of £500 million in grant funding each to the Glasgow City Region local authorities as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal.