Dobbies Loan

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Connecting the East and West of the City in the North

The Dobbie's Loan Avenue is the latest in a series of major transformation works in and around the city centre.

The project will see improved road and widened pavement surfaces, a new pedestrian junction between Buchanan Bus Station and Glasgow Caledonian University, bi-directional and segregated cycle lanes to provide safer and more efficient routes for cyclists, new benches and improved junctions and crossings on both streets, the planting of 59 new trees (49 on Cowcaddens Road and 10 on Dobbie's Loan) and rain gardens to enhance air quality, manage surface water / reduce flooding risk, and improve the area's look and feel. The work will take place along the 750 metres of Cowcaddens Road and 250 metres of Dobbie's Loan.

The underpass between the bus station and the University will be infilled to address personal safety issues due to poor visibility, with a new stair to be built at the location of the infilled underpass. There will also be - towards the end of the delivery of the project - a change to the layout at Cowcaddens Road / Port Dundas Road junction, with the closure of the north side of the junction to through traffic (with the exception of a permitted Southbound only lane for emergency services).

The Avenues programme forms part of the City Centre Strategy. The priority of this programme is about creating inclusive and sustainable space for people through quality public realm, green infrastructure and innovative technology.

Design Principles
Enhanced, continuous and widened footways	Rain gardens and Street trees	Biodiverse Planting
Segregated cycling lanes separated from other road users	Road carriageways reduced in width	Improved Public Realm
Rationalised and improved street furniture	Architectural lighting features	Road priorities adjusted with clear routes

Consultations

The design process for the Avenues has been shaped by extensive stakeholder engagement. These consultations included workshops, on-street engagement, and online questionnaires. The feedback gathered from these type of activities aim to shape the new placemaking approach to street design.

Focused on improving connectivity, providing accessible crossing points, and creating safer, greener streets for residents and students in the area.

Project Details
Key Dates	Stakeholder Concept Plan Meeting: 31 October 2022. Stage 4 Design Presentation: 9 September 2024.
Consultation Methods	In-Person Engagement On-Street Mobile Event: Hosted by IceCream Architecture, this event engaged with 1,010 members of the public through conversations and flyers distributed across three locations near Dobbie's Loan. Indoor Exhibition: Held at the George Moore Building, Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), this display attracted 170+ conversations with attendees, including students and staff from diverse backgrounds. It also resulted in 55 completed questionnaires. Dobbie's Loan Survey: Conducted outside Caledonian Court student residence, this targeted engagement recorded 60 resident interactions within a short session. Buchanan Bus Station Stall: Managed by Sweco, this stall facilitated 8 meaningful conversations and distributed 40 flyers, engaging commuters passing through the area. Stakeholder Concept Plan Meeting: Convened in the Centre for Executive Education, GCU, with 27 attendees from stakeholder organizations, including housing associations, transport operators, and universities.
Workshops and Direct Outreach	Stakeholder-focused workshops brought together representatives from key groups like Queen's Cross Housing Association, cycling groups, and local businesses. Flyers and posters were physically distributed to residences and businesses, alongside hand-delivered invitations to venues such as Tesco Bank, the National Piping Centre, and the Holiday Inn.
	Special Activities A Dr Bike Maintenance Station on GCU campus engaged with cyclists directly, providing bike tune-ups and promoting the consultation.
Online Engagement	Online Questionnaire Available for 4 weeks, the questionnaire gathered 210 responses, providing insights into public preferences and concerns.
	Digital Campaign Animations and concept plans were showcased on platforms like Facebook and YouTube, accumulating over 2,800 views. These visuals helped explain the proposals and captured wider interest.
Targeted Communication	Stakeholder Emails Invitations and information about the consultation were emailed to 168+ community groups and organizations, including universities and cycling officers. Key stakeholders included Townhead and Ladywell Community Council, Glasgow School of Art, and University of Strathclyde.
	Advertising The event was heavily promoted through social media posts, email campaigns, and posters displayed in local community buildings and high-traffic areas
	Student Engagement Collaboration with the GCU Sustainability Officer and cycling officers from other universities ensured robust outreach among students and higher education staff.
Public Opinion	Overwhelming support (96%) for a new pedestrian crossing at Caledonian Court. Support for wider and more accessible paths for pedestrians and cyclists. Concerns included traffic congestion and ensuring safe, segregated cycle routes.
Key Findings	Mode of Travel 42% traveled to or through the area on foot, while 18% traveled by bike. Students were the largest demographic.
	Engagement Outcomes Positive reception to the Concept Plans, with most respondents believing the changes would encourage active travel. Local stakeholders, including GCU, highlighted the importance of cohesive access routes and improved safety measures.

Link: Communication Plan Annex 1: Cowcaddens Road (PDF, 2 MB)(opens new window)

Design Team and Construction Contractors

The Design Team is led by Ironside Farrar
Glasgow Office: 5th Floor, 135 Buchanan Street, Glasgow G1 2JA
Design Contract Awarded

The Contractors Team is led by Wills Bros
Ballylahan Bridge, Foxford, County Mayo, F26 NP92
Phone +353 (0)94 925 6221 | Email: info@willsbros.com
Construction Contract Awarded

Funding

The programme is funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal, which includes contributions from both the Scottish and UK Governments, additional funding from Sustrans was also obtained for the project.