The infamous five

18 Jun 2010

Urban Realm has been hitting the road once more as a fresh decade presents a virgin crop of sHABBY Scottish towns vying for contention in our inglorious Carbuncle Awards. Entries this year demonstrate a notable stretching of geographical bounds as our incessant pursuit of the dismal takes us beyond our traditional Lanarkshire stomping ground.

Since 2005 The Carbuncle Awards has sought to identify the very worst examples of architecture and design for in so far as our built environment is concerned far more is going wrong than is going right.

Architects are good at awards - it's gongs galore in a professionÊwhich loves celebrating what goes right. We believe itÕs also legitimate to look at what goes wrong.

Britain is one of the most creative countries in the world, we produce some of the best architects, designers and musicians but for some reason that talent isn't translating into the built environment. Why canÕt we learn the lessons of the past and what can we do to make things better for the future?

Only in this way can the experience of past winners such as Glenrothes, Cumbernauld and Coatbridge be placed in context affording opportunity for all Carbuncle nominees to enter the new decade with confidence.
The Carbuncle Awards will be controversial. They will be traumatic. They will be dramatic. They will raise the hackles of many concerned but they will also be constructive because The Carbuncle Awards give local communities the ammunition they need to prompt their local politicians into action.

That is why weÕve scoured the country using reader and online nominations as our guide to identify five towns which are failing to meet their true potential, they constitute our 2010 shortlist for the Plook on the Plinth.
Denny
East Kilbride
Inverness
John oÕ Groats
Lochgelly

A panel will now be assembled to decide the final winner.
But you too can vote and have your say by logging on to
www.thecarbuncles.co.uk.

Denny
Denny has emerged as the latest Carbuncle contender with news that £11m plans by Henry Boot PLC and Keppie Design to redevelop a series of three putrid yellow and pink slab blocks along the townÕs high street have stalled.

Falkirk CouncilÕs leader, Labour Councillor Craig Martin, has criticised rumours of a potential 15 year delay in realising important regeneration plans for the Stirlingshire town as "scare stories", adding that: "they may be politically motivated".

The comments came after SNP councillor John McNally waded into the fracas surrounding the fate of three semi derelict blocks in the town centre by stating that: "The present administrations inertia on this carbuncle is stultifying".

McNally likened progress on the delayed scheme to "banging my head against a brick wall" and expressed incredulity that the current council have no live "Plan B" .

Martin countered however that immediate action is "not possible" due to a legal agreement signed with developer Henry Boot, which would see the authority incur substantial costs if an early withdrawal were forced.

In addition £2m needs to be found to relocate existing premises and a "severely stretched" Capital programme would struggle to meet these costs without a partner.

Outline planning permission has been submitted and Falkirk Council, with funding from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, are in process of acquiring properties in the largely vacant blocks whilst necessary traffic light improvement works are set to take place in May.

Perhaps the financial toll of delay on local business, tourism and residents will prove higher in the final reckoning.

East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a New Town relation to last yearÕs Carbuncle winner, Glenrothes. Sharing many of the same ills, including a run down town centre badly in need of a make-over and an array of modernist buildings that do not conform to prevailing notions of beauty, the estate bears all the hallmarks of post war overspill.

Also like Glenrothes the shopping mall which comprises much of the central area closes at night, creating a lethal dead zone in what ought be a vibrant 24/7 town, with a dearth of evening activities.  The prominent civic centre was described by Carbuncle contributor K. Kilpatrick as: " One of the worst examples of architecture in Scotland." KilPatrick continued: "The approaches to the centre from the surrounding housing areas are all via seedy underpasses or footbridges, as pedestrians are forced to give way to the private car. Not the best first impression for anyone visiting the town."

Inverness
Inverness, which could well be one of the most beautiful places in the Highlands is all too often a depressing and dismal place typical of others throughout the UK.

Development and progress In Inverness has gone hand in hand with drive in retail, business parks and disjointed housing developments. Far from focussing on its unique Highland identity an identikit sprawl of nowhere spaces are being built.

InvernessÕs best assets all lie in the past. Its worst developments and planning decisions are its most recent; its citizens deride their home as "Tulloch Town" or Tesco Town." Things are very clearly going awry. Depressing and joyless it is clear no passion has gone into the development or upkeep of Inverness. ItÕs almost as if the local residents have lost sight of what is possible. It's also clear that the local authority has lost sight of what is acceptable. Why? Why are so many towns blighted like this and what can be done to turn them around?

It need not be this way. Inverness benefits from a waterfront of spectacular potential, there are plans for a New Town at Tornagrain, Inverness Campus and Scotland's Housing Expo (covereed on page 28) all of which point the way to a brighter future.

John o' Groats
A plan of last resort is planned for BritainÕs most northerly mainland outpost, notorious for being so desolate that the majority of tourists turn tail and return southward minutes after arriving in the bleak outpost.

Plans are afoot however to transform the Highland ghost town into a coast town however with Highlands and Islands Enterprise commissioning GVA Grimley to prepare a £15m masterplan for the northerly attraction.

Unfortunately indicative plans depict a diabolical semi circular ring of asphalt around the village circumference to make way for the proposals which will create a new focal point for the village, centered upon a new square.