Public nominations and comments from 2008

Skip to: Pock Mark Award, Zit Building Award

Plook on the Plinth Nominees

Most Dismal Town

Alexandria

Area: town centre-degrading,downgrading.

Reason: derelict,open space,a windy bridge,a station in a roundabout,a tin shed the old co-op,wheres the new health centre,the so-called heart of the vale more like the ripped out heart of the vale.thats the council for you.mind you where ma mum stays is nice.

Nominated by: rough kid

Ayr

Area: The Harbourside development

Reason: A damnable eyesore. The coucil continues to allow these dismal little boxes to clutter up the skyline of Ayr and continues to add to the hellish leisure centre complex whilst completely ignoring the near derelict buildings that sit by the New Brig.

Nominated by: Sam McKeand

Comments

Skyline? Ayr? You must be havin' a laugh - at least with these there is a skyline. If you want greenery and hills, head for the country.

JC

Ayr is a beautiful town and for its size it eclipses the rubbish unkept towns that are littered across Scotland - c'mon Ayr!!!

DM

Boo hoo, Sam. Couldn't afford a posh apartment could we? I quite like them actually. The ones pictured are modern and look a lot more attractive than the ones on the other side of the river. Many of the top floor apartments have more space than many houses elsewhere in Ayr. What would you like to see in their place given how much of an eyesore you consider them to be? A tasteful Barrat development perhaps? Nice.

GC

balloch

Area: loch lomond shores

Reason: wheres the cala homes estate

Nominated by: various

Cardenden

Area: wasted potential

Reason: Cardenden is struggling to forge a distinctive identity under the shadow of larger neighbours and the loss of the coal mining industry which sustained it. A lack of ambition has seen a wealth of natural and geographic opportunity squandered, this should be promoted for Cardenden to embrace the future with confidence not surrendered to suburban sprawl.

Nominated by: alan watson

Comments

I would like to invite Alan Watson to meet me to discuss this nomination as his comments are unacceptable and ill adivised.

Elaine Collins PT BSS

Cardenden is not that bad a place to live,we have far worse places in Fife,some parts of Glenrothes are 10 times worse than the Cardenden area

Alexander Paste

who are you to say all this about Cardenden? have you actually stayed there? bet ya have not.....go get a real job and get a life!!

DAVID ANDERSON

Cardenden has a rich history of farming and mining. It has also contributed to the national field of Sport. The rolling views of the Village can be of picture postcard quality. The inhabitants are warm, friendly and more than able to verbalise their thoughts and endeavours. If that is seen as being stuck in the past, then what hope is there for other places who don't have the value base we have here in Cardenden. This is a strong and thriving Community - the past is the binding that has created a strong foundation of what Cardenden values are. These values and hopes do not need the flourish of an architect's pen and the bricks and cement of a concrete jungle to have an identity. People are happy to live in this special area, people clamber to live here. Cardenden is the place to be. Believe it or not, Cardenden has set the pace in many endeavours, the first Community-based Off Road Track in Scotland, Rural Partnership that supports over one hundred Students per term to focus on a range of subjects re employment, Volunteering, etc. Cardenden also hosts a range of Community Events that encourage an influx from the larger towns, we have something they want. We have inhabitants who contribute to 'Active Citizenship' via the work and skills that are appropriate. We have people who have put Cardenden firmly and squarely on the map re Scottish Champions, Hall of Fame Inductee and why? Cardenden supports endeavour, vision and commitment. Surrendering to the Urban sprawl, I think not and who may we ask is Alan Watson?

Bowhill Community Learning & Development Centre's Management Committee

Just heard that the town I represent on Fife Council has 'won' your Carbuncle award. Cardenden is just not in the frame....it is a very pleasant wee town...many many worse places could be found. The irony is that there is no significant architechture in the town to warrant a positive award! I would be happy to invite your panel on a guided tour of the town. You will see many new private developments...hardly where commercial interests would be if it were worthy of your award. Can I say, the public housing is some of the best kept, neatest and best behaved in Scotland.

Cllr Ian Chisholm

Cumbernauld

Area: Town Centre

Reason: North Lanarkshire's Total disregard for the people of the town. Addition of half empty retail shed (Antonine Centre) is a cynical attempt to exploit shoppers of Cumbernauld whilst providing no badly needed social facilities.

Nominated by: Iain Buchanan

Comments

Why do local authorities allow so many new retail developments, as if retail therapy is ever going to fix the social and environmental problems. I wonder how many pockets were lined when the planning for the Antonine Centre was rubber stamped!

Disgruntled

dalkeith

Area: town centre

Reason: ver costly facelift to the centre was carried out a couple of years ago and has cased the centre now to look like bom site.

Nominated by: kevin thomson

Dalry

Area: Town Centre

Reason: What town centre? Its more like a terrorist training camp for down-and-out jake balls.

Nominated by:

dumbarton

Area: town centre

Reason: a mess,hardly any shops,misplanned mess of a precinct

Nominated by: rough kid

Area: The Artizan Shopping Centre

Reason: The Artizan Shopping Precinct in Dumbarton has the the singulary most unattractive entrance to a town centre anywhere!

Nominated by: Victor Engador

Comments

av got to stay in this dump yard.sad eh,the folk are sad too.the towns total crap.

unknown

Edinburgh Waterfront

Area: Western Harbour and Granton Harbour

Reason: A great location, ripe for developoment that's a missed opportunity to create something innovative and of quality and is currently being filled with architectural spam

Nominated by: Seb

Fort William

Area: Waterfront

Reason: A pointless dual carriageway scythes past Fort William's greatest asset, it's waterfront. Segregating what ought be a pleasant amenity by lanes of traffic and ill advised service bays for a soulless shopping centre fronting the high street. Image by rassac of flickr.

Nominated by: Mary Scanlon

Area: sea front

Reason: it should be really senic but has been badly planned and executed. it could be fantastic, the Rivera of the north, but no. Costa del Nupty instead

Nominated by: Patrick

Glenrothes

Area: Tanshall

Reason: It really is a concrete jungle,hardly any green open spaces and has a lot of Neds

Nominated by: Alexander Paste

Area: all of it

Reason: has no soul

Nominated by: Al Baines

Comments

While I agree that the photo does not look good it should be noted that these flats are being knocked down and replaced by affordable housing associations.

Bob of Glenrothes

Glenrothes has no sense of community spirit, people are too afraid to leave their homes. The shopping centre is dismal there are no decent pubs/restaurants within walking distance. Get something done for our youngsters. A well deserved award. Glenrothes looks and feels depressing!

M Smith

Gowkthrapple

Area: all of it!

Reason: Contaminated wasteland next to the most run down primary school I have ever seen. Houses next to a huge power sub station. Squatter plates up on all empty housing and smashed windows everywhere. No shops or anywhere to go. Huge disused delapidated factory. No people walk the streets, eerily silent.

Nominated by: Lyn Sedgeworth

Comments

I totally agree with Lyn. This place is the absolute pits. The factory has been on fire umpteen times over the past year and the place is full of junkies and feral kids vandalising and destroying every thing in their path.The nature garden is an absolute joke!Its filled with broken bikes and prams and part of the wooden walkway in the park was burned down within weeks of the park opening.

Shaz

Greenock

Area: Town Center

Reason: The redevelopment of the Town Center was done with idea of adding the worst aspects of strip malls and Big Box Retailers and plunking it down in the middle of Victorian Town. The redevelopment cuts the community of from one of its best natural features, the waterfront. The town does have many Natural Features that could have used to create an inspiring place to live, such as the old drydocks which could have been turned into marina's, but the planning department seemed to be so desperate for any development that they have allowed some of the worst modern architecture in Scotland to be built. The Oak Park mall is an absolute eyesore from outside and not much better inside. The New Tesco's with its enormous car park creates a giant barrier for anyone wanting to visit the waterfront. The councils neglect of planning is also reflected in the complete indifference the police show over the town center. Only the brave or fool hardy will remain in the town center after dark, when it becomes the home of roving bands of drunken Neds.

Nominated by: Callum Roxburgh

Comments

Every large town needs somewhere to shop and the oak mall in greenock is certainly better than a vast amount of hsoping centres ive seen elsewhere. Greenock is a large town where people have needs fo shopping and large supermarkets, if they are such an eyesore why are you still living here? dont run down your own town when your still living in it!

Julie

Greenock town centre's not bad actually. The waterfront is easily accesible and there is a lovely footpath stretching along the shore from the town centre upto Cartsdyke. The council or should that be The Scottish Government funded Riverside Project is exciting too. Got to Agree with Tesco inPort Glasgow....it completely cuts of the main artery between Inverclyde & Glasgow. Shocking decision by our Tesco Councillors.

Dave P

invergordon

Area: cromarty firth port authority fishemal shed

Reason: the CFPA as a port authority do not need planning permission. the CFPA Chariman who was also chair of the Council planning committee erected a huge fishmeal shed which now blocks the panaramic back drow of our town high street. the fishmeal now blows over the town and the smell is horendous. the town is now covered in fishmeal residue. the port of invergordon attracts 25,000 visitors per year on the luxuary cruise ships. the town is up in arms but the CFPA have stated that they did not need planning permission or community consultation. The CFPA have distroyed something that belonged to the community.... a stunning view from our highstre.

Nominated by: WENDY CLARK

Inverness

Area: The Longman

Reason: A spectacular firthside location filled with warehouses, factories, a landfill site, car showrooms, litter and stuff that's always burning

Nominated by:

Reason: Mostly reclaimed land which has been given over to thinly-disguised drive-in retail, and a potentially spectacular waterfront, where leisure facilities and parkland could have complemented the football stadium, instead populated by builders' suppliers and kitchen warehouses.

Nominated by: DM

Kilmarnock

Area: All Over it's a dirty run down eyesore

Reason: Kilmarnock has never been a beautiful town but it's unkept look that it has now is simply down to local council decisions and a vast lack of spending and under skilled council tradesmen, every second or third shop is a charity shop, mobile phone shop or an opticians,

Nominated by:

Area: Central shops, bus station

Reason: Yet another historic town centre, rich in links to the Covenanteers, ruined by poor quality 1960s and 1980s design. The centre is dominated by a one-way race track and a recent multi-story carpark, and is an oasis of drab, boarded-up shops, lacking even cafes. Empty at night, the town centre is prey to vandals and petty crime. It's all the more depressing set against Kilmarnock's attractive 1920s green suburbs, and recent successful regeneration of villages in the Irvine Valley.

Nominated by: Mark

Kilsyth

Area: Main Street

Reason: With one hand they are forcing conservation and with the other they did the main street with stainless steel bollards and stainless steel trees. So now it looks like some sort of odd time rift where old and new have smashed together.

Nominated by: David McLuckie

Area: main st

Reason: burned out buildings for at six years and gap sites lack of modernisation because of antiquated ideas about conservation status which has held back any real development of town centre for years although a lot of money has been spent tarting up the place and the latest grant of nearly 1/2 million pounds to tidy up the shop fronts without altering them. G dailly

Nominated by: G. Dailly

kirkcaldy

Area: templehall

Reason: one of these places where you check for 4 wheels after pulling away from give ways. Took 2 of friends children home home passing through there they pleading me don't stop

Nominated by: Robin

Motherwell

Area: Urban planning

Reason: Motherwell is a sprawling succession of dead spaces dominated by the point and slab blocks. God knows what impact Ravenscraig will have on the place.

Nominated by: Brian Henderson

Area: Shopping Centre

Reason: Shops have gone downhill and the old Asda store is STILL lying empty.

Nominated by: Caz

Area: Town Centre

Reason: The town centre is probably the worst in Lanarkshire and that\'s saying something. Most big names have closed down and Woolworths will soon join them.The old ASDA building is now some horrible charity furniture store and the same fate has happened to the building that used to house WH Smith.I\'m guessing more of the names will move out leaving the town centre no more than a pass through.Horrible architecture and littered streets leads to the most depressing town centre ever(and i lived in Coatbridge for years but even that is not as bad). Please make Motherwell the winner of this award so the council get a kick up the arse.

Nominated by: John Anderson

Comments

Motherwell has been dying a slow death for the last 20 years...give them this award and maybe the emergency services will arrive at last...or at least a clergyman to administer the last rites

Joe D

Remember there HAS been investment in the area, a new modern stylish office block has just been built. Goes without say it is a council office. No one else would / could spend that kind of money in this dump. ps building has had ventilation problems as no air con was installed. ( the planning department work from this building lol. )

'mon the well

Motherwell is long overdue this award NLC have somehow managed to get away with year's of neglect in this area.

Lee

Motherwell – Civic Centre An eastern europe styled cultural hub is depressing heart for the community

Andrew Johnson

Its now called "Pound city" Due to all the pounds shops that have moved in.

Allynic

What can you say, except that it hasn't really changed much over the years.

Lawson

New bonhill

Area: all the new bit

Reason: a slum town of the 70s

Nominated by: various

Newmains

Area: asda

Reason: most poorly planned and under used new build i have seen in years

Nominated by: ross suttie

Nitshill

Area: Abandoned properties

Reason: Derelict homes are a target for vandals and arson, semi cleared sites are evocative of Beirut.

Nominated by: Mark Field

Comments

As you predicted I am one of the locally elected members covering the Nitshill area of Glasgow and hope to defend my turf. I welcomed the Plook award for Silverburn last year. I saw this as a positive response. Taking into account that many years ago the Darnley estate was given an award as an example of modern architecture. Sadly most of that area no longer exists and lots of new houses replaced many of the deck access blocks which featured as part of that award. Hopefully by upsetting so many people to be awarded the Plook - Silverburn will now have a longer life that those building in Darnley. This year I note with interest that you have decided to shortlist the Nitshill area as a whole. It is interesting that the photo which appears on your website is about 8 years old. The area where the photo was taken is South Nitshill and these houses have all been demolished and a new private housing estate is currently under construction by Persimmon Homes. Over the last nine years there have been many positive changes within the Nitshill area. We may not have the finest architecture but we can now boast that there are houses which sold recently for over £250,000. I will not accuse those who decided to shortlist Nitshill as being snobs but they may have been a little misguided. Before any of your readers participate in the vote it may be worthy of their time to come to Nitshill to see the area for themselves rather than believe that nothing is being done to replace the old image that once blighted this area. I would be happy to conduct a tour of the area to show people the investment that has taken place including the £14 million investment to build Glasgow Museum’s Resource Centre, £14 million on the two new primary schools, the 5 plus new housing developments which have been built in the last 6 years, the investment programme of the Glasgow Housing Association and how it has impacted on the Nitshill area and explain the plans we are currently working on to regenerate the Nitshill corridor. Recently we removed a public house/hotel called the Levern Water. This has had a very positive impact on how people view this area. Outside Glasgow City Centre the Nitshill area has benefited from the largest level of investment in the past 5 years. Although you may not like the Silverburn Shopping Centre it has provided much needed work for local people and is proving to be a very successful shopping destination this Christmas. We realised many years ago that something had to be done to improve the Nitshill area and we are making steady progress. Maybe your readers would be interested in many of the developments that have taken place and would also like to know our plans for the future. We have a good community spirit and more people are now in work than there have been in recent years. Hopefully before your readers cast their vote they will come and see for themselves how this area has changed since your photo was taken.

Alex Glass

North Lanarkshire in general

Area: the local authority

Reason: The council seem to have about as much love for this area as Hitler had for Poland. They had a chance for a clean break back in the ninties and all the council has done is create a series of stupid, evil looking, and downright depressing planning decisions. For example, Cumbernauld town centre; designed as if the architects were on acid. Coatbridge; in need of a new beginning but left on the operating table to bleed out. The same comment can be used for Airdrie. As for the southern half of North Lanarkshire (known as the money black hole) I would just ask the USAF to carpet bomb the place. At least that way the ruling elite of this area MAY improve; don't hold your breath, though.

Nominated by: David Kilmartin

Shotts

Area: all

Reason: not enoghth shops

Nominated by:

Tarbolton

Area: That area within the full set of '30' Limits

Reason: Total lack of commitment from successive Local Authorities to recognise the deprivation therein , their failure to exploit commercial designated areas for developmentand, through lack of foresight in housing development, they have effectively removed the majority of the 18 to 35 year old inhabitants.

Nominated by: J DALLING

Area: All of it

Reason: To regenerate the town after the demise of the deep coal mining industry, South Ayrshire Council took a different tack to all other tried and trusted methods of regeneration employed by every regeneration practitioner and local authority in the world, and decided to ignore the situation in the hope that it would disappear before anyone noticed. If not for local volunteers this brave and innovative plan may well have worked.

Nominated by: Sheila

WISHAW

Area: MAIN STREET

Reason: TRAVEL THROUGH WISHAW AND TRY TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF FAST FOOD TAKEAWAYS, YOU WILL NEED ALL FINGERS AND TOES AND REMEMBER IT IS NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL WHO PASS PLANNING APPLICATIONS ON THESE SHOPS. THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO SPEND TAXPAYERS MONEY ON HEALTHY EATING ADVICE. GO IN ANY DIRECTION NORTH SOUTH EAST OR WEST AND TOWNS HAVE TRAFFIC FREE AREAS WHERE SHOPS CAN THRIVE, WISHAW HAS NOT CHANGED IT TOWN LAYOUT IN 60 YEARS +. 24 hour Tesco, 24 Hour Asda , Morrisons, Aldi , Lidl all within 1 mile of Wishaw town centre, now we have no proper Post Office, no fishmonger, fewer bakers and buthchers than ever. The main street around Jack McConnell MSP / Frank Roy MP office has more shops to let than are occupied, but our local MP Frank Roy is 100 focused developing the next new town ie the Ravenscraig white elephant. Give Wishaw the prize it deserves 'Most dismal town in Scotland' and make it a double double form North Lanarkshire Council

Nominated by: J SMITH

Area: Town Centre

Reason: No civic pride. Poor planning decisions. Destrucion of historic buildings like St Ignatius School, Wishaw Academy, Wishaw High. Shame on North Lanarkshire Council and its predecessor Motherwell District.

Nominated by: HAMCK

Comments

Wishaw...full of chemists,hairdressers,bookies,charity shops,cheap jewellers,cafes,pubs and fast food shops...aye were really spoilt for choice in "Wishy"

Shaz

Really and truely, Wishaw must surely be considered Scotland's most dismal town centre. North Lanarkshire Council have adoped a piecemeal approach to "regenerating" the town centre and their political masters have allowed this to happen. The same interventions that were considered 10 years are still under consideration. Wishaw needs a radical rethink; seletive demolition, realigning of roads and contraction of the retails core. This way we can get rid of some of the low grade shop units and eliminate the crap cafe, takeaway and charity shop dominance of the area. North Lanarkshire Council should be ashamed of their approach to town centres! How many times can they be nomonated for and win this awards to realise they have a some of the worst town centres in Scotland and they don't have a clue how to deal with them in an appropriate manner. As for poor old Wishaw, for years people have referred to it as a dying town centre. Can I declare today that Wishaw Town Centre if officially DEAD! Rest in Peace!

Wishaw Man!

Pock Mark Nominees

Worst Planning Decision

'Southern Distributor Road

Area: West Inverness

Reason: Already horrifically expanding town gets a new road to aid even more soulless modern housing estates because, er, they can.

Nominated by: DM

'Squiggly' Bridge

Area: Glasgow

Reason: Over budget, over schedule, over the Clyde! All this wouldn't be too bad if the actual bridge itself looked good.

Nominated by: Lee

Commments

The bridge does look good, or do you just want another concrete flyover?

JC

I like it too

Dave P

I'll ask here as the design team seem to be close by: Why is this bridge needed?

Southsider

A80 upgrade

Area: Cumbernauld

Reason: With all this talk of improving public transport the Scottish Government decide that a lovely new motorway should be ploughed through a town that already has an image problem.

Nominated by: David Kilmartin

Artizan Centre

Area: dumbarton

Reason: 5 shops in it how sad how depressing it is ,ugly,a tip,degrading no wonder shoppers go to clydebank and the vale coz a do.

Nominated by: rough kid

Caltongate

Area: Edinburgh`s Old Town

Reason: too numerous to mention, the name sums it up!

Nominated by: Al Baines

cromarty firth port authority fishmeal shed

Area: invergordon

Reason: as ABOVE

Nominated by: WENDY CLARK

Glasgow On Ice

Area: George Square

Reason: Cheap Santa tat despoils an already impoverished square with faux chalet shacks, low quality rides and sub par attractions.

Nominated by: Daniel Hutcheson

Comments

Best to remove it all, and let people piss in the square? Who needs fun, kids, and anything but clubs and booze in the city center?

JC

Inverness Retail Park 2

Area: Inverness

Reason: Visible from space, the most hideous spot in the Highlands gets added to and attracts even more road traffic to the plastic-bag pocked wildreness

Nominated by:

Leith Docks

Area: Leith

Reason: The scale of development – The Leith Docks masterplan is bigger than Edinburgh Old & New Towns put together – Can we entrust one developer / acquiescent planning authority with this responsibility? Proposed uses – The outline masterplan ‘describes’ 90% of the development area as “predominantly residential” with little or no requirement to promote mixed use & active street frontages throughout. Location: Exposure to the Forth / North Sea on remote promontories could reproduce the isolation evident at Platinum Quay. Proximity to meaningful public transport routes (tram line 1 skirts around the edge of the development) which is about half a kilometer from the proposed waterfront. Because of the high water table many recent residential developments on the waterfront consist of residential towers sitting on top of 2-3 floors of car parking. Unless this is addressed at a strategic level in the Leith Docks Masterplan, there is a real risk that it will not be safe to walk down the streets & public realm will be non-existent. The quality of the proposal evident so far does not exhibit any real joined up thinking & threatens to squander a potential world-class opportunity

Nominated by: anon

Pub and club in former underground station

Area: Botanic Gardens, Glasgow

Reason: Okay, this has not got full planning permission yet - but it would be a disaster for one of Glasgow's best parks. This oasis of calm in Glasgow's West End would be well and truly breached. And anyway, does this area really need more pubs?

Nominated by: Angus

Trumpton

Area: Aberdeen

Reason: Donald Trumps controversial golf resort at the Menie estate, Aberdeenshire. There is concern that this is a front for a large housing scheme. Design concerns, now in the hands of Gareth Hoskins. Ecological worries about impact on unspoilt coastline. Originally rejected by councillors this was overturned by the government. Martin Ford sacked after using his casting vote to block the plans. Concerns over Alex Salmond’s relationship with Trump.

Nominated by: Donnie

Comments

A despicable decision to approve this outrageous scheme on an SSI

G Simpson

For the insult to democracy this should trump the lot

clare symonds

It will be terrible for Aberdeenshire. We really don't need a world class hotel and golf resort. All those new jobs during a recession will ruin us. It seems to be people who are not from Aberdeenshire who are against the plan. Martin Fords from england FFS.

Andrew Wilkinson

Just what Aberdeenshire needs Hundreds of unaffordable houses, sorry chalets, and yet another golf course. Does this now mean that whenever a developer waves a cheque book that Aberdeenshire councils and the Scottish Government will simply grab the cash and allow anything to go ahead despite long term negative impacts for sustainability and environment. What example does this give to the rest of the world?? The average person in Aberdeenshire probably won't even be able to afford to play there anyway?

Adam

Democracy is dead! Money talks!

a.mitchell

Thanks for highlighting this sorry episode

Debra Storr

Cant wait for a round. Bringing in money and jobs. Making Aberdeen an even more attractive area for Golf Tourism. Oil wont last forever. Bloddy NIMBYS. im from the area in question and I am in full suppport.

Colin St

NigelT - this proves that you have not a clue about this area.

Kitty

Aye, but what a view i will get when im putting out on the 18th green!

C

disgraceful decision to build a SSSI. Martin Ford made the correct decision and was vilified for it. If this had been any other developer - no way ! six storey Bangkok hilton in the middle of the North East coastline which will be seen for 20 miles - how is that in keeping with the area , like we need more golf courses ! The environment and dunes mean nothing to the council

Rhonda Reekie

A vanity project by an American at the expense of one of Scotland's still wild and unspoiled places.

Fiona Anderson

It goes to show that when it comes to the crunch the natural world and all its beauty and wonder comes second to money. Awful decision

Percy

The Trump has bullied his way into Government. The Democratic process in Planning is dead!

Judy Pringle

Disgusting decision, it will destroty a unique environment and bring very little in the way of skilled jobs. Many companies in Aberdeen struggle to fill low-skilled posts as it is! Complete nonsense that some have unfortunately swallowed, hook, line and sinker.

JohnB

This application is out of all proportion for the aite and will destroy the integrity of an otherwise unmodified and important dune system

Charles Gimingham

Just shows that if you've got the cash that you can do what you want. He has made us scots look like absolute fools. The designs are in no way inkeeping with our heritage and it looks more like a disney resort than a golf club and how this will be good for the locals is beyond belief, will they actually be able to afford to play on this resort?

Emma Whitehead

A bankrupt council selling Scotland's 'legally protected' natural heritage for dirty dollars.

NigelT

A low integrity decision designed to benefit the ego of a bad developer and some biased politicians. The end result is a tarnished reputation for the area and the loss of a unique landscape. In a time of environmental awareness and a growing understanding of teh integrity issue in government many politicians who have supported this decision will learn to regret their position.

David Milne

An unbelievable appproval in a totally inappropriate place. What price long term sustainable development with this sort of decision!

Cate

Aye, but what a view i will get when I tee off and hole out!!

C. St

Zit Building Nominees

Scotland's Most Disappointing Building

CROMARTY FIRTH PORT AUTHORITY FISH MEAL SHED

Area: INVERGORDON

Reason: AS ABOVE

Nominated by: WENDY CLARK

George IV Hotel

Area: George IV Bridge Edinburgh

Reason: Its awful

Nominated by: Al Baines

Glasgow Harbour

Area: Clydeside

Reason: Like a large brown turd floating along the clyde

Nominated by: Zoiberg

Comments

Strange. I went past it in the car just yesterday and was thinking how fugly it looked. Glad it's not just me that cringes at the sight of it. :-)

Glasgow Geek

“no facility for business and retail” – Have you seen the Masterplan at all??? (proposals Retail, Commercial, the Transport Museum currently under construction, etc)??? Oh but yes there is only residential at the moment, but Partick and Byres Rd is only 5 / 10min away….

A happy gh1 resident

"not build a wall around it???" Have you walked down to the public squares and river front walkway or have you just drove past on the Expressway as most people do? If not wander down and have a proper look how "open" it actually is to everyone not just residents. There are plenty of other developments that actively stop the public getting to the river. Not GH.

happy GH

It amazes me that Glasgow City Council talked of the unsightly highflat developments in Glasgow during the 60's. Is this not the same? Or does making a quick buck at the same time make it alright.

Dave P

Dont worry, they only have a 25 year lifespan so they'll be ripe for knocking down soon enough

Lee

A classic example of greed and lack of imagination in taking the easy high rise residential development option reulting in a souless buy to let ghetto .

R. Mackenzie

"Like a large brown turd floating along the clyde" hehehehe!

viewer

no doubt you'd know quite a bit about large brown turds zoiberg, being obviously an arse

gh2 resident

Nothing but a shambles. A Planning blight on the City. I though the main aim was to regenerate the river not build a wall around it. No pubs, cafes, shops or commercial. Its a 21stC rebuilt easterhouse estate. As said before at least it will only be up for 25 years. How much did the city pay to all the consultants and master planners?

glasgow lover

Glasgow's flagship development is over dense, developer driven with an over preponderance of one and two bed flats. There is a lack of integration with Partick a lack of mixed tenure and no facility for business and retail.

Paul Landon

Inverness Retail Park 2

Area: Inverness

Reason: The Inverness Retail Park is the worst planning decision ever (strangely ignored by Carbuncle judges, who seem distastefully interested in kicking places like Airdrie and Coatbridge when they are down). The recent additions - including, er, a gym, add insult to horror. The car park is a vast windblown tarmac prairie covered in discarded Tesco bags. Coatbridge and Airdrie have suffered industrial decline - what's Inverness' excuse?

Nominated by: DM

Comments

Inverness's excuse is we have the local council who have invested 130.000 of our money in TESCOS then wonder why Invernessians complain when we get called TESCO TOWN.

Carol Fraser

Modern Inverness looks as if it had been bombed during the war.

David Robertson

Platinum Point

Area:

Reason: Cynically designed to make money at expense of place making. Tick box architecture. Too great a reliance on buy to let. Developer subsequently went bust when boom ended.

Nominated by: Dave

Plaza

Area: Glasgow

Reason: Very poor architecture and form lacks ground level retail. New build dwarfs the retained façade of previous ballroom. Cheap materials, no design effort contribute to a complete failure of all parties to enforce any semblance of quality control.

Nominated by: Andy

ST Enoch Centre

Area: glasgow

Reason: leave it alone stop putting bits on it

Nominated by: rough kid

The Eden Court Theatre Extension

Area: Inverness

Reason: It's yellow. It looks like a packaging factory.

Nominated by:

The Plaza Apartments (old Ballroom)

Area: Pollokshaws Road, Shawlands, Glasgow

Reason: I drive into work along Caledonia Road and catch site of the ill considered massing of the back of the Plaza which depresses me greatly! I would love to say that all the design efforts were concentrated on teh front elevation to the detriment of the rear elevation, however, this is sadly not the case and Shawlands now has a lump of a reminder that GOOD DESIGN IS MORE IMPORTANT than squeezing in numbers!

Nominated by: Craig Heap

Comments

It's hard to get an actual photograph of this as it seems to have been purged from the Internet. The 3d renders make it look as if it has been plonked in the middle of Eden..

Southsider

Absolutely dismal addition to the urban landscape. A reputably firm is behind this number, I can only assume they wilted to pressure from fat cat developers.

Gibson

A fine example of the city's failure to produce a masterplan for Eglinton and East Poolokshields or to adhere to decent design standards

Concerned local

Dreadful elevations, wrong scale, poor form. no relevance to existing ballroom. Another token gesture and a missed opportunity for Glasgow.

Ryan Holmes

Trade Winds

Area:

Reason: Projects the like of Trade winds need to be pilloried on three counts: 1 It shows Forth Ports interest in design terms of the outcome of a plot sale; 2 Poor Design; 3 Poor Planning decision. This design could be seen as the precursor for much more like it, why should we have faith in the Consent for 16,000 more homes at Leith Docks, remember this figure excludes all the struggling beauties already with Consent at Waterfront Edinburgh, Granton and Western Harbour.

Nominated by: Gordon Duffy

Union Square

Area:

Reason: Worry that this will poach trade from union street. Box retail mall that greets visitors to train station. Planners too easily acquiesce, no authority to promote better design and no relationship to surrounding context.

Nominated by: Colin McColl

Comments

A Adams