Springburn Virtual Museum

Springburn in transition

The Fernbank scheme, c 1980

The Fernbank scheme was built between 1971-76 on the site of the old Cowlairs Cottages ('The Blocks'), which had been considered too expensive to refurbish.

Ugly five- and six-storey flat-roofed blocks in pink cladding, with concrete decks and stair towers, were laid out in a stepped arrangement down the hill. They suffered from serious building defects and major social problems and were closed down in 1988.

Work began in 1989 on major rehabilitation work by a private housing developer, and the blocks are now more attractive, at least externally, with pitched roofs, bi-coloured cladding and landscaping.

Source: Glasgow City Archives