Survey reveals increased neighbourhood satisfaction following greenspace transformation
A residents’ survey has revealed increased neighbourhood satisfaction following the £2.6m transformation of underused greenspace in Cardonald.
Land beside high-rise flats at Queensland Court and Gardens was brought to life last year through the creation of a vibrant community park complemented by sustainable drainage measures that reduce flood risk.
The survey, carried out by Research Resource on behalf of Southside Housing Association, found that 90% of those surveyed now say their neighbourhood is either a ‘very good’ or ‘good place to live’ – up from 68% before the park was constructed.
The joint project between Southside Housing Association and Glasgow City Council through the City Deal backed Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership (MGSDP) is the most recent phase of the Hillington and Cardonald Surface Water Management Plan.
The new community park has an outdoor socialising space and informal woodland. The attractive new space also features dedicated toddler and children’s play spaces with climbing frames and slides, as well as a bicycle pump track and cycle storage facilities to encourage active travel.
Sustainable drainage measures that mimic nature such as raingardens, basins, and swales, have also been retrofitted on site so that localised flood risk is reduced.
The survey, which was carried out over the summer also showed increased satisfaction with specific aspects of the neighbourhood, with satisfaction being the greatest about the play facilities (97%), bike storage facilities (94%) and residents’ feeling of safety (91%).
The project has also delivered health benefits. Compared to a baseline survey from 2020, respondents use of greenspace at Queensland Court and Gardens has increased from 35% to 64% – with 30% now saying they go outdoors in their local area for fresh air 4-7 times a week, compared with only 10% previously.
Social connections have also improved, with 38% of those surveyed now speaking daily to someone other than who they live with. Previously this figure was only 15%.
The creation of improved, more resilient community space responds positively to the climate emergency and has delivered an accessible, open space for residents – enhanced through an award-winning landscape design, previously recognised by Building with Nature and the Landscape Institute.
Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Region Cabinet said: “It’s fantastic that the community park has been so well received and that it’s now much easier for residents to socialise outdoors as well as for children to play.
“It’s also good to know that the works are having a positive environmental impact – with theretrofit of nature-based solutions on site reducing the risk of surface water flooding and ensuring the future enjoyment of a much-improved community space.”
Alex Cameron, Chair of Southside Housing Association added: “I’m delighted with the results of the survey and to hear about the benefits that this partnership project has made to residents. For us as a housing association it really demonstrates the value of this type and scale of investment, both on the local environment and on the residents using the space.”
Both the UK and Scottish Governments are providing the Glasgow City Region local authorities with £500million each in grant funding for the Glasgow City Region City Deal.
The work at Queensland Court and Gardens is also part of a £37.5m Scottish programme of projects to improve the urban environment of our larger towns and cities. The Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention was led by NatureScot and part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). With 81% of Scotland’s population living in urban areas, the Green Infrastructure Strategic Intervention aims to make larger towns and cities more attractive, equal and environmentally sustainable places to live, work and invest in.
Other project funders include the Cardonald Area Partnership (through Glasgow City Council), the Scottish Government, the Place Fund (from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Unit), Green Action Trust, EB Scotland, FCC Environment, Garfield Weston Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund, Cycling Scotland, and the Clothworkers Foundation.
Survey Details
In late 2020, an initial study was carried out to understand household views on their neighbourhood and local greenspace to create a baseline picture of resident views, behaviour, and experience of the greenspace within the grounds of Queensland Court and Gardens in the Cardonald area.
After the development of Queensland Community Park, an endline study was carried out in June 2024 to understand their views on their neighbourhood and local greenspace.
A total of 100 interviews were undertaken with households living in the Queensland Court and Queensland Gardens in the baseline study. A total of 97 interviews were carried out in the endline study. One interview per household was carried out with an adult representative of that household.
For the baseline study, 100 interviews represent a response rate of 53%, from a household population of 189 per the survey’s scope. For the endline study, 97 interviews represent a 51% response rate. The total household population in Queensland Court and Gardens is 224.
You can read the survey undertaken by Research Resource here.
