PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETING

Agenda Item 12.5a: Gartloch/ Hydrology Study

Introduction

The Gartloch/Gartcosh Strategic Delivery Partnership has identified that detailed hydrological investigation is required to inform the integration of future development within the Vision of the Gartloch/Gartcosh Green Network Strategy for a regional wetland park and the objectives of the Metropolitan Strategic Drainage Plan.

To this end Glasgow City and North Councils have prepared a brief for a hydrological scoping exercise which will build a picture of the current. Brief is attached below for information.

Project Purpose

The project has the dual aims of:

1. Undertaking a Hydrological Scoping Study the purpose of which is to gain a broad understanding of the hydrology of the area and to to clearly define what is required from a more detailed investigation. The scoping study will include:

 a review of all previous studies including vegetation, hydrogeology, ground/ surface water modelling  a site plan delineating watershed partitions ( drainage areas) for the specified area including existing contours  a plan of the catchment detailing existing developments, and how they are served by drainage and sewerage systems  a map showing all existing water conveyance systems including information on : watercourses, wetland habitats, natural water bodies etc  information on all previous recorded flood events  show directions and lengths of sheet flow and channel flow  general description of local drainage  downstream flood risk up to 1:200 year return period for the catchment including climate change  programme and cost estimates for a full Hydrological Study and Surface Water Management Plan. Include all necessary and desirable elements; e.g. survey work, flow monitoring, photography, calculations etc. and include any further related work for added value.

2. Undertaking a detailed hydrological study which may run for up to two years to allow for the seasonal variations and to capture hydrological reaction to extreme weather events. Until the scoping study has been completed it is difficult define exactly what the study will entail but is likely to include:

1 12.5a Gartloch.Gartcosh Hydrology Study 110209.doc  Flow monitoring – this will involve the placing of monitors at strategic points in the area to determine flow rates and patterns. This is an expensive exercise and the length of time it will take is dependent on the weather conditions and as such difficult to predict;  Hydraulic modelling – creation of a computer model of the hydraulics in the area. This will be based on industry-standard software and provide us with the tool to understand the impact of different scenarios on the catchment; and  Scenario testing – utilising the model run and test scenarios considering a range of development and environmental situations.

Project Management

Given the technical nature of the project it will be managed by Glasgow City Council’s Transport and Environment Department aided and advised by their colleagues. Glasgow City Council will also manage the tendering process.

Funding

It is estimated that the first element of the study, the Hydrological Scoping Study, will cost the region of £30,000. It is proposed that this be split 50/50 between Glasgow City Council and the Green Network Partnership.

It is difficult at this stage to estimate the cost of the second phase but it is likely to be in the region of £200,000. It is proposed the Green Network Partnership contribute £65,000 to the detailed Hydrological Study with the remainder met by Glasgow City Council.

Recommendations

1. That the Board approve the allocation of up to £15k support for phase 1 and up to £65k for phase 2 from the 2008-09 Green Network Partnership budget towards the total estimated project cost of £230k.

2 12.5a Gartloch.Gartcosh Hydrology Study 110209.doc Gartloch and Gartcosh Hydrological Scoping Study

Brief

Introduction

Partners: North Lanarkshire Council, Glasgow and Clyde Green Network Partnership and Glasgow City Council require a Hydrological Scoping Study to be prepared for an area encompassing north eastern Glasgow and parts of western North Lanarkshire. As shown on the attached plan the study area stretches from Loch in the west to Woodend and Lochend Loch in the east.

Vision

The long term vision is to create community growth blending within the natural environment and a wetland corridor from Hoganfield Loch to Woodend, Lochend Lochs and beyond with. Drainage of surface water lies at the root of this vision and so an understanding is sought of the hydrological interactions with in the area giving the partnership information to take forward the sensitive blending of community growth and the existing environment in a surface water management plan and community masterplan.

A holistic approach will assist the partnership in fulfilling the underlying objectives of the Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Plan and the sustainable development objectives of Community Growth Areas in east Glasgow and at Gartcosh and Glenboig in North Lanarkshire i.e.

1. development constraint removal use “identification” rather than “removal”. ?? 2. flood risk removal 3. water quality improvement 4. habitat improvement 5. integrated investment planning

Desired outcomes

The Consultant will be required to produce a Hydrological Scoping Study which should include: - a review of all previous studies including vegetation, hydrogeology, ground/ surface water modelling - a site plan delineating watershed partitions ( drainage areas) for the specified area including existing contours - a plan of the catchment detailing existing developments, and how they are served by drainage and sewerage systems - a map showing all existing water conveyance systems including information on : watercourses, wetland habitats, natural water bodies etc - information on all previous recorded flood events - show directions and lengths of sheet flow and channel flow - general description of local drainage - downstream flood risk up to 1:200 year return period for the catchment including climate change - programme and cost estimates for a full Hydrological Study and Surface Water Management Plan. Include all necessary and desirable elements; e.g. survey work, flow monitoring, photography, calculations etc. and include any further related work for added value.

Study Area Description

The plan attached shows the location of the study area. Landform is mostly flat and boggy with many lochs. Largely underdeveloped, it has a diverse range of land uses, which include recreation, farmland, areas of mature and newly planted woodlands, wetlands, marsh, raised peat bog and important nature conservation sites including key species and their habitats.

More specifically the area contains significant areas of wetland including Bishops Loch, Hogganfield Loch, Frankfield Loch and Gartloch Pool (all Glasgow), Johnston Loch, Garnqueen Loch, Woodend

3 12.5a Gartloch.Gartcosh Hydrology Study 110209.doc Loch and Lochend Loch, (all North Lanarkshire). Areas of significant nature conservation interest include Bishop Loch Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Woodend Loch SSSI. There are also several areas designated as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and Local Nature Reserves (LNR) at Hogganfield Park, Bishop Loch and Cardowan Moss. SINCs within the North Lanarkshire area include several lochs and the Bothlin Burn and a LNR containing great crested newts at adjacent to Gartcosh Strategic Business Park.

Further examples are the woodland surrounding the former Gartloch Hospital which includes a small area of long-established woodland of semi-natural origin, which is identified in the Inventory of Ancient, Long-Established and Semi-Natural Woodland. Large areas of Community Woodland are located to the west of the M73 and north of . Other important environmental resources include sites of archaeological importance and a number of key ecological habitats and species as identified in the Glasgow Local Biodiversity Action Plan.

The history of the area is dominated by the industrial revolution and the extraction of coal and other raw materials. Consequently parts of the land suffer from settlement changing landform and water flow patterns. Areas which were once dry have become permanent water features e.g. pond to the north of Gartloch Road. The Monklands Canal in the south eastern part of the study area exists in culverted pipes although the route of the canal can still be seen west of the open section on the eastern extremity of the study area.

Most of the area drains to the North East via the Bothlin Burn. Frankfield Loch and Hogganfield Lochs drain to the Molendinar Burn and parts of and Garthamlock housing developments drain south to the Burn, Whamflet Burn and Tollcross Burn.

Development

A number of community growth areas have potentially been identified

Approximate Approximate Size Site Number and Description Number of (hectares) Dwellings

Site 1 Land to the North and East of 400 20 Garthamlock

Site 2 Land between the South of Gartloch 420 21 Road and North and West of Easterhouse

Site 3 Land between the East of 620 31 Easterhouse and West of the M73

Site 4 Land to the North East of 160 8 Easterhouse

1600 80

Road development also is being considered. The plan shows the B806 Gartloch Road upgrading from 6m width to 9.3m with the inclusion of SUDs. Westerhouse Road/ Dewar Road Link will be dual (Easterhouse to Gartloch Road) and single carriageway (Gartloch road to Dewar road in the north of the area) and will also include SUDs.

Within North Lanarkshire, there are also proposals for a Community Growth area focused around two existing villages at Gartcosh and Glenboig. Outline boundaries for development have been identified but detailed site development frameworks have yet to be developed. Development is scheduled for the 2011 to 2018 period.

Site Number and Approximate Number Approximate Size Description of Dwellings (hectares)

Site 5 (North Land at Gartcosh and 1000 – 2000 TBC TBC Lanarkshire) Mount Ellen

Site 6 (North Land at Glenboig. 1000 – 1500 TBC TBC

4 12.5a Gartloch.Gartcosh Hydrology Study 110209.doc Lanarkshire)

Brief Requirements

The Consultant will supply a programme for the production of the scoping study. The report will detail all findings and options, outlining the issues to be considered and stages to be gone through for carrying out a full Hydrological Assessment of this area.

5 12.5a Gartloch.Gartcosh Hydrology Study 110209.doc