Dumfries Openspace and Parks Masterplan

Winning entry for a national competition to masterplan the North West of Dumfries and consider how this detached quarter of the town which has been cut off by the A75 and A76 can be linked back into the town centre. The regeneration is centered on four widely spaced sites with the potential to be connected by existing open space, a new cycle path running along a disused railway and the River Nith.

Collective Architecture masterplanned the project and developed an arts strategy in consultation with the local community linking the open space by improving pathways, keep fit activity for all ages, and cycle routes. The new routes will run from the local secondary school into the centre of town. Collective Architecture has also worked closely with community artists to develop interventions based on the themes of heritage, nature and activity. These interventions incorporate new gardens, sports facilities and play spaces designed with local children. Working with Dumfries and Galloway Council and Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership work to the public open space is underway and includes the following;

1) A new wildlife area incorporating attenuation ponds, boardwalks and bird hides. These have been developed in consultation with the local wildlife ranger and Maxwelltown Secondary School.

2) A new village green with Central Lochside the housing development taken to site by Collective Architecture.

3) A new Community Park which incorporates 'Community Tree Planting'

4) The redevelopment on Popeye Park Boating Pond within what was previously Lincluden House grounds.

5) A new activity park which emphasises sport through mounding and the restoration of tennis courts.

Three of the four sites were taken to design stage by DGHP’s in-house architects with the fourth most central located site being designed by Collective Architecture. Regular meetings were held with the groups of architects to develop the sites and how these relate to Collective Architecture’s masterplan, through planning approval and to form part of a bulk procurement process to be constructed by the same contractor. Together all four sites will provide over 400 new homes and local amenities for NW Dumfries and where joined by further sites in Stranraer to make up the largest regeneration site in Scotland. Central Lochside, designed by Collective Architecture provides 78 new homes including for rent, for sale and shared equity accommodation.