Special Feature - Forthside
Forthside development takes shape
From its historic background, widely recognised for its Castle and famous battles, Stirling is being transformed with modern infrastructure. Over £100 million is currently being invested in new developments at Forthside.
The regeneration of a 40-acre brownfield site on the banks of the River Forth adjacent to the railway station will transform Forthside into a contemporary city centre quarter. Forthside is one part of the Council's strategy to improve and develop the City as an even better place in which to live, work and do business. The new cinema is already making a contribution to enhance the evening economy and bringing more life to the city centre.
The aerial photograph plots the different development sites at Forthside:
1. 214 residential units being developed in phases by Gladedale
2. 151 bed 4-star hotel / 500 seat conference centre
3. Stirling Railway Station
4. New pedestrian bridge linking Forthside to city centre
5. New Civic Square
6. Engine Shed – to be refurbished and extended and potentially suitable for bar / restaurant use
7. 127,000 sq ft of sustainable office space
8. 100+ residential units
9. 8-screen cinema (Vue) with adjacent restaurants, including Frankie & Benny’s and Nandos
10. Former Barracks, to be refurbished as small business units and restaurants
11. 600 space public car park and coach stop
12. Stirling Bus Station
13. Public transport route used by Park and Ride
14. Riverside walkway and viewpoint
Stirling Development Agency
Stirling Development Agency Limited (SDA) are delighted to be playing an integral part in the next and final phase of development within Forthside.
Based on a highly successful 11-year relationship between Valad (formerly Scarborough Development Group), City of Stirling Business Parks Ltd was restructured and has been operating as the SDA since March of this year.
A £12m portfolio of investment properties, including industrial estates at Bandeath, Callander, Cowie and Fallin along with business centres located at Wellgreeen House (city centre) and Enterprise House (Springkerse) were sold by the Council to the joint venture partnership in which both Stirling Council and Valad hold a 50% stake. This compliments existing holdings at Castle Business Park and Broadleys Business Park.
Development sites including Burghmuir, Station/Goosecroft Road, Crookbridge, Millhall and, of course Forthside also transferred to the SDA. Furthermore, an outline planning consent has been approved at Kildean where the SDA propose to develop a business park (330,000 sq ft), Further Education College and leisure facilities.
The SDA intends to make a significant contribution towards the delivery of the economic objectives within the Council’s Strategic Plan through actively managing and expanding the existing property portfolio. Despite the current economic climate, the SDA are looking to deliver a £100m development programme within five years. An early indication of this can been seen at Forthside where Detailed Planning applications have been submitted for:-
- 127,000 sq ft of Grade A open plan office space, designed by international architects RMJM and expected to achieve an “Excellent” BREEAM rating. The accommodation which is within two buildings and provides flexible floor plates, heralds a new era of architecture and quality within Stirling
- The former Engine Shed, which is to be refurbished and extended to provide approximately 7,460 sq ft. The building, which will form the southern edge of the new Civic Square is ideally suited for use as a bar/restaurant. Adopting a prudent approach to this development, pre-let proposals are sought from occupiers.
The SDA also intend to develop over 100 residential units within Forthside.
Future issues of Stirling Eye will highlight various projects being undertaken by the SDA but in the meantime, further details can be obtained by contacting Graham Blackstock, Caron Ireland or Lois Thoms at Valad Property Group, Forsyth House, Lomond Court, Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4TU (Tel: 01786 431729).
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