Stirling publishes draft city masterplan
September 22 2016
Centrepiece of the proposals is a 60 hectare City Park on former hunting grounds to the west of the castle with a former royal garden known as the Kings Knot which will be retained as a key feature. Landscaping would extend an existing set of walks and open spaces around the castle down the volcanic mount top the city centre proper, a move which the council reckons could entice an additional 250,000 visitors to the area.
In their masterplan statement Stallan Brand wrote: “The landscape is the fundamental aspect which makes Stirling unique compared to Glasgow and Edinburgh. The surrounding hills are key to this but it is also the way in which the countryside extends right in to Stirling. The highland cows underneath the Castle are a perfect example of this.”
Key also will be a push to better connect surrounding communities through promotion of an ‘active travel network’ comprising new road links, cycle tracks and footpaths.
Stirling is the latest city to bid for City Deal funding from the UK and Scottish government’s, with the entire masterplan costed at £200m to deliver it will be unable to proceed without political backing at a national level.
Former municipal buildings will be transformed into a digital hub
Stirling is seeking to bolster its business credentials through creation of incubator space for start-ups
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11 Comments
#1 Posted by A Local Pleb on 22 Sep 2016 at 13:08 PM
I like the look of this, here's hoping it progresses and leads to better things!
#2 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 22 Sep 2016 at 15:53 PM
Some good ideas here but much of the townscape of the Old Town still derelict and unkempt It would be ten times better if owners just maintained their buildings
#3 Posted by Arthur Brown on 23 Sep 2016 at 11:42 AM
Shame that the plan fails to recognise the economic value of the two local Higher Education establishments. It's notable that neither the University of Stirling nor Forth Valley College are listed within the section in the LDP on infrastructure considerations. Clearly these two establishments which must be the largest employers in the area aren't considered important!
#4 Posted by classarchitect on 23 Sep 2016 at 13:18 PM
(with regards to the main image) Stirling Council - where was this architect led vision when the hideous cinema, hideous premier inn, hideous housing on the far corner of Forthside Way and hideous scandalously expensive and woefully detailed pedestrian bridge over the railway were granted permission. Brilliant intervention by comparison but a bit late.
#5 Posted by Owen Philipson on 23 Sep 2016 at 16:15 PM
@Arthur Brown - the University and FVC are mentioned actually - on p3 in reference to the business incubation 'Grow On Space':
"The proposal is part of optimising connection between a variety of key partners along the river including Stirling University, Forth Valley College and key business partners and the City Centre, reinforcing the overall blend as an International City."
The university is referenced all throughout the main masterplan document as an asset to the city that could be made more of.
"The proposal is part of optimising connection between a variety of key partners along the river including Stirling University, Forth Valley College and key business partners and the City Centre, reinforcing the overall blend as an International City."
The university is referenced all throughout the main masterplan document as an asset to the city that could be made more of.
#6 Posted by Bonvivant on 23 Sep 2016 at 17:02 PM
Don't you just love the optimistic council employees who think that landscaping around the back of the castle will bring nearly 700 people a day, every day, 365 days of the year to Stirling who wouldn't otherwise have gone there. If only these people could be held to account.
#7 Posted by Sven on 24 Sep 2016 at 10:38 AM
@Bonvivant they use the word 'could' a word that is both inspriational and delusional yet also instantly dissmissive: 'I did say could and not would'. The regeneration of Raploch has improved the lives of locals and vistors view of Stirling, so they have started their journey on a firm footing. I do question the need and demand for an open arena and bandstand by the windswept river and think it an expensive Potemkin village.
#8 Posted by Caulder on 24 Sep 2016 at 11:51 AM
@Bonvivant - "Landscaping around the back of the castle" = 10km walking/cycling path network, sculpture trail, restoring the medieval King's Knot garden, leisure facilities, cafes, visitor centre, City Farm educational/visitor attraction, a major outdoor events space, and all served by a new dedicated junction on the M9... And that visitor number estimate you're sneering at is only a quarter of that for Falkirk's Helix Park in its first year.
#9 Posted by CADMonkey on 24 Sep 2016 at 12:54 PM
Erm...why is a "draft masterplan" being supported with detailed CGIs of architectural proposals?
This seems to be putting the cart before the horse, or is it a done deal and these architectural commissions have already been let?
I am a concerned tax payer.
This seems to be putting the cart before the horse, or is it a done deal and these architectural commissions have already been let?
I am a concerned tax payer.
#10 Posted by Tam on 26 Sep 2016 at 10:03 AM
Very interesting that the press releases on this are just going out now, 3 weeks after the non-publicised "public consultation" of the draft plans have closed.
#11 Posted by Terra on 27 Sep 2016 at 22:56 PM
Sounds good, it's about time. A new harbour is particularly promising as almost the entire forth river valley has loads of untapped potential. I only found out recently that Stirling used to have shipping trading with the continent. When you think Stirling, you don't automatically think "port city" but it'd be great if they could, with the other larger settlements on the bank of the Forth, start to take advantage of it.
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