DundasHill Landscape and Public Realm Framework

The innovative regeneration of DundasHill takes a long term, sustainable approach to the future transformation of the former Diagio distillery site through the commissioning and implementation of a green and blue landscape infrastructure framework. The framework will shape the future development of up to 620 new homes, embedding the creation of distinctive places at the heart of a new residential neighbourhood.  The project is worthy of an award for the ambitious and confident decision taken by the client towards investing in a landscape led approach to brownfield land regeneration.  The construction of the land remediation, public realm, woodland planting and the expressed sustainable drainage system establishes the quality and character of the development to follow. It ensures that landscape elements often left to last are given primacy in the design.  The utilisation of the Forth and Clyde Canal as a large storm water detention basin as part of a city wide emergency water management system is thought to be a first in Europe.

The drumlin site previously accommodated a series of industrial uses, including iron foundries, oil, grain and chemical works, flour mills and more recently whisky distilleries.  The last distillery closed in 2011 leaving a series of large level terraces and the remnants of former buildings and tree planting giving the site a unique character. The detailed design and construction of the subsequent green and blue landscape infrastructure builds on this character and includes: 

a network of new public spaces, streets and footpaths that repurpose the site infrastructure and enhance pedestrian connectivity; an earth works strategy that dealt with site contamination whilst keeping all material on site thus limiting material taken to land fill; an innovative SUDS network of swales, rain gardens and basins expressed in the public realm; a new ‘canal’ on the southern edge of the site that plays a key role in managing the surface water drainage via a smart technology activated drainage connection allowing storm water to discharge into the Forth and Clyde Canal; an extensive network framework of woodland planting, street trees and shelter belts to  frame development plots and improve microclimate; incorporation of the industrial remains such as a large concrete 'bunker'; reshaped landform to create useable amenity spaces for play and recreation and discreet viewing terraces integrated with the sites topography and industrial infrastructure.