Springburn Virtual Museum

Springburn in transition

Clearance of tenements in Springburn Road, with Sighthill flats in background, c 1975

The new Springburn bypass was many years in the planning. The assembly of land required for the new road system was started under the Comprehensive Development Area procedures. This picture shows the demolition of tenements at the lower end of Springburn Road, opposite St Rollox Works, ahead of phase two of the new roadway.

In the background is one of the ten blocks of high-rise flats built from 1962-66 at Sighthill. A delegation from the city had visited Marseille in 1947 to see the new 'tower blocks' designed by French architect Le Corbusier. A policy of high-rise building was implemented in Glasgow, but it was not realised that this style of building was not suitable for all environments and people.

The Sighthill flats have suffered some of the worst social problems in Glasgow, such as violence and drug-dealing. In recent years the Glasgow City Council has controversially rehoused asylum seekers here.

Source: Glasgow City Archives