1.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE

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1.3.1 East Dunbartonshire is situated to the north-east of the Greater Glasgow conurbation and to the south-east of the Campsie Fells and Kilpatrick Hills. It covers an area of some 17,182 hectares (66.3 square miles) three quarters of which is agricultural land.

1.3.2 The main towns are Bearsden, Milngavie, Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch and Lenzie. The villages include Torrance, Milton of Campsie, Lennoxtown, Twechar and other smaller villages.

1.3.3 Despite there being significant levels of housebuilding within East Dunbartonshire, the continuing decrease in family size, and especially the rising number of (particularly elderly) people living alone has meant that the total population has very gradually declined over recent years. The population in 2002 stood at some 107,310.

1.3.4 The population of East Dunbartonshire is projected to continue to reduce to 105,652 by 2006 and may drop further to 104,055 by 2010 (GRO figures). Included within these figures however, is a significant increase in the proportion and numbers of elderly people.

1.3.5 The Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan projects that the total number of households could increase through to year 2011, notably for single people (the proportion rising from 22% to 30%) particularly single pensioners. The proportion of households of two or more adults (with or without children), to year 2011, is projected to drop from 74% to 67%. The Local Plan policies have been developed to respond to these trends.

1.3.6 At present there are some 42,900 houses in East Dunbartonshire, which are predominantly (84%) privately owned and in good order. The area remains an attractive location for house purchasers and this is reflected in high prices and pressure for development. There are however some pockets of poorer quality houses, particularly in Kirkintilloch and some of the villages, which would merit improvement.

1.3.7 There is also a lack of opportunity in some areas for those in need of affordable rented, ‘care in the community’, sheltered and low cost private housing. These types of property generally command a lower value than “mainstream” private housing and are consequently less attractive for the market to provide. The Local Plan proposes a number of means of addressing this issue.

1.3.8 East Dunbartonshire communities are well located for access to Glasgow and the city centre, with generally good transportation links to the city’s facilities and jobs. This however has its drawbacks, as it can lead to an over-reliance on the city for employment and service provision and thus to traffic congestion on the arterial roads. It is the Council’s policy in the longer term to redress this imbalance but in the meantime there are some significant gaps in the transport network and these will be addressed in this Local Plan.

1.3.9 There is a significant mismatch between local employment and the needs of the area’s residents. This arises from the reliance on Glasgow and other towns in the conurbation and on the nature of local job opportunities, which are predominantly low skilled. There are however a number of important local employers within the existing business areas and in the retail and service sectors (mostly in town centres) which provide valuable employment.

1.3.10 In order to retain employment in the area, existing business areas require to be protected from inappropriate development and also enhanced to make them more attractive to business investors. Additional development opportunities which better meet the needs of modern businesses also need to be promoted. The retail sector is generally aimed at serving local needs and continues to be fairly buoyant, particularly within the four town centres of Kirkintilloch, Bishopbriggs, Bearsden and Milngavie.

1.3.11 There is however a continuing need for investment in the quality and range of shops and town centre services and in the environments of all the town centres in order to increase their attractiveness to the community.

1.3.12 The towns and villages each have their own individual characters and this is generally valued by the community. There are a number of Conservation Areas and historic buildings and monuments which merit protection and enhancement.

1.3.13 The natural environment in and around the settlements provides valuable habitats for plant and animal life, as well as recreational and amenity assets for the community. A number of designations protect these locations and their continued protection will be very important in maintaining and enhancing East Dunbartonshire’s image into the future. Although leisure and recreational facilities are present in most communities there are undoubtedly opportunities for improved provision. The local plan identifies these shortcomings and highlights the opportunities which might be delivered during the plan period.

1.3.14 The physical environment of the area is generally valued by the community, with high standards of housing and open space within the settlements. There are relatively few vacant and derelict sites although a number of locations would benefit from improvements. East Dunbartonshire has an attractive rural setting which is largely agricultural, suffering relatively little from urban fringe problems although there is a significant potential to improve access to the countryside for leisure and increase the range of facilities for visitors, particularly associated with the Campsie Fells and Forth and Clyde Canal.

1.3.15 The East Dunbartonshire area incorporates a range of landscape character types, ranging from the rugged hills of the Campsie Fells to rolling farmland and it is important that all development proposals take cognisance of the characteristics of the area within which they are situated.