‘Stalled spaces – delivering community and environmental benefits through temporary greenspace’ – a new research report published by greenspace scotland – highlights the environmental problems being caused by the economic recession. Scotland’s urban communities are increasingly showing the physical effects of the recession.

Speaking on the launch of the report Julie Procter, Chief Executive of greenspace scotland said:

Our towns and cities are showing the physical scars of the recession. Across Scotland many neighbourhoods and communities are blighted by sites which have been cleared for new building but where development has stalled. Where these ‘stalled spaces’ lie empty and are allowed to fall into disrepair, they can depress people and places. Stalled spaces often attract antisocial behaviour and can have a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of local residents. They can deter investment in the local economy; stigmatise areas and lead to conflict between communities, local authorities and land owners.

But this does not have to be the case, as Deryck Irving, Partnership and Enabling Manager at greenspace scotland, commented:

Our report identifies a range of options for temporary greenspace uses of stalled spaces as settings for community events and activities. It also examines opportunities for installing green infrastructure in advance of planned developments to speed up the process of development as the economy recovers.
There are, however, some significant obstacles to developing temporary uses for stalled spaces. These often relate to fears that spaces which become temporary greenspaces will be difficult to return to development or concerns that financial or legal liabilities will fall on site owners."

The Stalled Spaces report identifies the problems and opportunities of stalled spaces. Drawing on the experience of practitioners across Scotland, the report highlights key obstacles to developing temporary greenspaces on stalled sites and proposes a range of approaches to tackling these barriers. A number of inspiring examples of putting stalled spaces to work are included from Scotland, the UK, Germany and the USA.

The report is just the first stage of greenspace scotland’s stalled spaces project. The next stage is to put the report into action. greenspace scotland has embarked on the second phase of the project working with landowners, developers, local authorities and communities to develop examples of how temporary greenspaces can be created and managed. This includes work across a range of sizes of stalled spaces from single gap sites in Rothesay town centre to large, post industrial spaces which could contribute to the green network in Irvine (and to the wider Central Scotland Green Network).

The research report is available to download at www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/stalledspaces/

Contact for enquiries
Deryck Irving, Partnership and Enabling Manager, greenspace scotland
T: 01786 465 934 | M: 07884 495455 | deryck.irving@greenspacescotland.org.uk