Glasgow's Robroyston Faces Housing Boom Without Essential Amenities

Robroyston, a Glasgow suburb, has seen rapid housing growth without corresponding amenities like schools, doctors, or transport, causing frustration among residents and raising concerns about community infrastructure.

Growing Housing, Missing Amenities in Robroyston

Alana Muir recalls her childhood in Glasgow's Robroyston area, specifically the Glendale estate, where she once looked out to vast green spaces. Decades later, she still resides there but now sees an expanse of housing developments instead of greenery.

Since the 1990s, Robroyston has experienced significant housing growth, attracting numerous families. However, the expansion has not been matched by the development of essential community facilities.

"It's just houses and houses", sighs Alana. "We have no doctors, no dentists, hardly any sports facilities - and there's hundreds more houses on the way."

An aerial view of the Robroyston area of Glasgow, showing dozens and dozens of houses — Image caption, Robroyston has become dominated by housing developments

Historical Context and Development Plans

Robroyston was primarily farmland for many years and is historically noted as the site where William Wallace was betrayed in 1305. The area also housed Robroyston hospital until its closure in the 1970s, after which housing developments began, initially slowly in the 1980s with Glendale, then accelerating from the late 1990s.

In 2009, Glasgow City Council designated Robroyston and nearby Millerston as a community growth area, creating a masterplan to increase housing and infrastructure. Initially, about 1,600 homes were planned, but the council now estimates around 2,000 homes will be built due to additional developments beyond the masterplan.

Residents have expressed frustration to BBC Scotland's Your Voice over the housing growth lacking accompanying amenities.

"This area is bursting at the seams, but none of the benefits from so many people moving in has resulted in anything going back into the actual community," says Eamonn McCloskey, a long-term resident.

"They sold houses on the basis of schools, shops and amenities coming in. Essentially we have the opposite problem to nimbyism in that we are desperate for anything in our backyard."

Community Facilities and Education Challenges

Robroyston's retail park, built about 30 years ago, remains one of the few non-housing additions to the area. The influx of families, particularly those with young children, has led to practical challenges, especially in education.

Alana Muir's son, Ethan, currently lacks a local secondary school to attend after the summer holidays. The area's only non-denominational secondary school is Smithycroft, located approximately three miles from their home. Glasgow City Council has stated there is no need for another secondary school in the area.

Due to Alana's nursing job and shift patterns, she cannot always drive Ethan to school. Without a car, options are limited: there are no cycle lanes toward the school, and only one bus route serves the area, making multiple stops.

Parents have been advised to have their children walk, which Alana estimates to be a 90-minute journey passing a graveyard with safety warnings against unsupervised children.

"A walk like that will affect his education. There needs to be better transport to actually get children to Smithycroft - it isn't safe at all to get there without it.

"Where are all the new children going to go that are moving in here?"

Although All Saints Secondary in nearby Barmulloch is closer, Alana has been unable to secure a place for Ethan due to high demand.

Glasgow City Council estimates the walk to Smithycroft as about 45 minutes and suggests the No 8 bus service as an alternative. However, this service runs hourly in the afternoons. The council has requested increased frequency from operators SPT but was informed demand does not justify it.

An exterior view of a large secondary school building — Image caption, The area's only non denominational secondary school is Smithycroft Secondary

A map showing Smithycroft school in relation to Robroyston and Robroyston train station

Funding and Infrastructure Concerns

Many residents are also concerned about Glasgow City Council's use of section 75 funds, which are contributions of approximately £15,000 per new home from developers, intended for local infrastructure and facilities.

Much of this funding was allocated to the construction of Robroyston train station, which opened in 2019 to improve connectivity. However, the project exceeded budget expectations, and locals report a lack of transport options linking homes to the station.

"The train station has really soaked up the community growth fund money," says Glasgow list MSP Paul Sweeney.

Despite this, £5.4 million in funding remains and will increase as more homes are sold.

Paul Sweeney - a man with short dark hair, glasses and a beard, wearing a dark blue suit. — Image caption, The MP Paul Sweeney believes the issues go back decades

Historical Development Issues and Governance

Paul Sweeney attributes the current issues to decisions made in the 1990s following the dissolution of Strathclyde Regional Council. This resulted in Robroyston falling under Glasgow City Council jurisdiction, while nearby Bishopbriggs came under East Dunbartonshire Council.

"Someone in the 1990s drew a line down Auchnairn Road and now there is an arbitrary split.

"If you look at somewhere like Sighthill in Glasgow there is a masterplan where things like shops and a GP surgery are all baked in.

"Here, it's been incoherent for 30-odd years and been left to the developers."

Developers' Perspectives

BBC Scotland News contacted several developers active in Robroyston. Taylor Wimpey West, responsible for about 400 homes across various developments, stated it works closely with Glasgow City Council and stakeholders to align with planning frameworks. Planned amenities include a tennis court and an enhanced central community space.

Avant Homes is constructing 109 homes at Darroch Fields and has planning permission for an additional 470 homes ranging from two to five bedrooms. The company noted contributions to the council's Section 75 and ENV2 funds, supporting projects like the train station.

Park Lane and Beltway Homes are developing 256 homes with three to five bedrooms. Beltway highlighted benefits such as improvements to the M80 motorway and indicated that local amenities would be included in the wider development, again citing Section 75 funding.

An aerial view of dozens of homes in the Robroyston area — Image caption, Many developers who have built in Robroyston say the new builds will help the community due to money going back to Glasgow City Council

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said discussions about infrastructure continue as housing developments progress. They acknowledged the need for community facilities but noted that services like doctors, dentists, and shops depend on private businesses or the NHS.

Community Response and Future Outlook

Some residents have begun leaving Robroyston due to the lack of amenities. Jillian Davis, who moved there in 1998, has raised similar concerns for years.

"People are choosing to leave", says Jillian. "My daughter was born here, brought up here and likes the area but has moved to Moodiesburn, and that's because she can get far more there in terms of facilities than here.

"We are more remote than the Highlands."

Local councillor Thomas Rannachan advocates for improved infrastructure, including better bus services and cycle lanes, to complement the housing developments.

"Whether that's buses to make it easy to reach the train station or cycle lanes," he said, "there needs to be something beyond houses.

"Robroyston is just a monster now, it's too big. People here aren't asking for much - they just want basic things you would expect pretty much anywhere in the country."