February 7 2023

Glasgow's historic Graving Docks are to benefit from a £2.4m grant to upgrade a riverside walkway and create new green space by 2025.

Cash from the Scottish Government's vacant and derelict land fund will be used to improve biodiversity at the former shipyard, which has lain abandoned for 40 years.

As part of broader moves to restore the A-listed docks to permit the repair of heritage vessels and establish the areas as a tourist attraction, the investment could lay the groundwork for subsequent private sector investment to fund additional infrastructure - including a footbridge connecting to the Science Centre.

Councillor Richard Bell, depute leader of Glasgow City Council, commented: “The very welcome announcement of £2.4 million funding from the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme will allow work to dramatically improve the appearance of the site, create new public green space to be co-designed by the local community, and improve access and connections to Glasgow Science Centre."

Developer New City Vision is at an advanced stage of designing a mixed-use neighbourhood for the post-industrial site with lead architect O'DonnellBrown and ZM Architecture as conservation architects.

10 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 7 Feb 2023 at 10:37 AM

Why only vintage vessels?

If it is an industrial asset of any value -- then we should make the most of it and not turn it into a tourist attraction with a few local artisans playing at engineering in front of a crowd.

How the mighty have fallen.

#2 Posted by Heidfirst on 7 Feb 2023 at 11:17 AM

after 40 years of abandonment the green space for biodiversity is quite good. Much brownfield is better for biodiversity than what follows. I do want to see the Graving Docks retored & used for historic ship repair/museum etc & an area of public realm but let's be honest - this almost inevitably will be neater/tidier but worse for biodiversity (especially invertebrates).

#3 Posted by DJ on 7 Feb 2023 at 12:00 PM

@1. You've probably hit the nail on the head - it isn't a viable industrial location any more. Unless the term "heritage vessels" means ageing CalMac ferries.

#4 Posted by John Brown on 7 Feb 2023 at 21:48 PM

It is completely viable to bring in commercial ship repair work to the site and reactivate the dock. The problem is that the current owner isn't keen on it as he wants to develop flats that will give him a better return. The heritage vessel focus on Dry Dock 1 is at least a start - but the guy behind it is a former Technical Director at CalMac and has sais that there is a huge ship repair market out there, as well as workboat assembly.

#5 Posted by Harry Williams on 8 Feb 2023 at 11:35 AM

It is not a good idea to have an active dry dock next to housing. Working dry docks are very noisy places, generators and doing metal work creates a lot of noise. Asbestos was only banned in ships around the year 2000, most old ships have a lot of asbestos in them, people might not be happy living next to a place where people are working with asbestos.

#6 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 8 Feb 2023 at 16:57 PM

Is the Clyde a working river or is it an economic backwater trying to grift a few bob from some tourists?

There is a complete lack of available land / riverside frontage to deliver any sort of economic improvement to the area.

The river has been sewn up by Peel Ports to deliver shareholder return and not real economic activity -- the Clydeport sell off was economic vandalism which still hurts us today.

Manufacturing should come first.

#7 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 8 Feb 2023 at 18:13 PM

Dock No.1 -- might see some hot manufacturing / maintenance action after all ...

Historic ship restoration -- sounds as if they are in the hunt for a Calmac contract?

#8 Posted by Heidfirst on 9 Feb 2023 at 14:57 PM

we already have the Glenlee, Waverly & TS QM with the possibility of Falls of Clyde & the former HMS Ambuscade coming back too. We could become a hub for work & training in heritage shipbuilding skills (modern shipbuilding is somewhat different). & really, we coud use a museum to celebrate the glory days of the Clyde rather than dispersed across several sites.

#9 Posted by Not Impressed on 10 Feb 2023 at 14:32 PM

Why on earth would it be worth using this space for refurbishment of "heritage vessels", other than to please a select number of enthusiasts. Use the land for housing creating an attractive area to live (and visit); reconnect it to Pacific and Yorkhill Quay.

#10 Posted by Heidfirst on 11 Feb 2023 at 17:42 PM

because the bulk of the (uncommon) facilities are already there & it could provide ongoing employment?
because it is classed as at flood risk by SEPA - not so much of an issue for a dock v housing?

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