AT HOME
GOUROCK
The client was pretty hands-on all the
way through, they wanted to know what
we were thinking of, and we had good
contact with the local planning authority
all the way through. I guess because it
was a public investment, it was a public
project, there was a desire for us to have
these consultations and get to the bones
of things. I think control is important
because what happened in Gourock 10 or
so years previously during the boom time,
was that various developers had come
along suggesting that if they were allowed
to build ludicrous amounts of waterfront
flats, they could invest X amount, move the
railway station and so on. It was all pie in
the sky because nothing ever came of it.
The budget stayed tight. it’s one of these
GOUROCK WATERFRONT: PROJECT INFORMATION
This project comprises the regeneration of 3Ha of Gourock’s
town centre and waterfront, including over 1Ha of long
derelict and visually blighted land at Pierhead between the
town and the railway station. The project was completed in
January 2016 at a cost of £5.2M. It was delivered by Riverside
Inverclyde (RI) on behalf of Inverclyde Council.
The objective was to improve the experience of residents,
businesses and visitors to Gourock, through making it a more
attractive and convenient place to live, work, socialise and
visit. In order to achieve this, the following major interventions
were conceived and developed:
•
Land reclamation to create a continuous accessible
waterfront for the town centre, linking the existing car
park, Pierhead and the railway station.
•
Improvements to traffic flow, congestion and parking in
the town centre via the creation of a one-way system
with new waterfront street, incorporating an eastbound
carriageway for the A770, a new route for the N753
National Cycle Route and Inverclyde Council’s Core
Path 1E.
•
An eastward extension of the existing car park and
significant sea defence improvements.
•
The creation of a high quality public open space on
Pierhead, together with landscape and public realm
improvements, to improve the stations visual setting
and its connection to the town centre.
•
Rationalisation and extension of the Network Rail
car park to increase capacity and relieve pressure on
adjacent public parking.
A key challenge of the project was to re-connect Gourock
town centre with its waterfront whilst accommodating
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Landscape Insight | August 2017
wholesale changes to traffic circulation and parking capacity
within a tight budget. A robust public realm framework
was therefore created for the proposed layout with strong
pedestrian links with the town centre, to reconnect the Station
and open up the waterfront. Simple paving design combined
with strong, robust, visual elements such as stone faced
gabion walls, curved railings and distinctive lighting columns
were developed to unify the area and provide it with character.
Improvements to traffic flow and parking have encouraged
trade in Kempock Street and enhanced the use of Gourock
Railway Station as a ‘park and ride’ facility. Additional bus
stops and better connectivity to the railway station is also
promoting the use of public transport and cycling, encouraging
sustainable travel. Local traders facing onto the new Lower
Kempock Street are harnessing the opportunity to erect
additional signage to promote their businesses and an
interactive information iSign has been erected too, for local
businesses to advertise their trade to visitors and tourists.
In conjunction with this regeneration, the Council has also
invested in a major refurbishment of its Lido Swimming Pool
and RI has gone on to refurbish the old Municipal Buildings
into a Business Suite for SME’s. A recent article in the
Greenock Telegraph quoted research suggesting that Gourock
has seen a 200% increase in people enquiring about breaks
in Gourock.
These improvements then, have helped Gourock to
capitalise on its intrinsic qualities and stunning coastal setting
to make it a more attractive and sustainable town centre to
visit and do business, to socialise and interact, offering an
improved quality of life for those who live and work here.