“They were only supposed to last 40 years anyway” A demolition contractor once said. We stand here in Sighthill Glasgow. This wasn’t always a place of modern regeneration. For decades Sighthill was home to towering concrete structures. Ten high-rise slab blocks once dominated the skyline. They housed over 7500 people. But by the mid 1980s the estate gained a negative reputation. High unemployment crime and drug abuse plagued the area. Sighthill became a symbol of deprivation.
The story of Sighthill is one of transformation. It began as part of the Springburn Comprehensive Development Area. Slum housing was cleared making way for these ambitious new estates. The Pinkston sector was built on what was known as the Soda Waste. This was land polluted by the United Alkali Company’s chemical works. The Fountainwell sector was built on a farm. This was south of Sighthill Cemetery which opened in 1840. The cemetery is the resting place of John Baird and Andrew Hardie leaders of the 1820 Radical War.
The Pinkston power station once supplied power to the city’s tram system and Subway. It was closed in 1975. The cooling tower a city landmark was demolished in 1977. The high-rise living became unpopular. Low demand led to Sighthill becoming temporary housing for refugees and asylum seekers. This created a diverse community.
In 2005 letting was suspended. The future of the Fountainwell blocks was debated. Eventually the decision was made to demolish them. Demolition began in 2008. The Pinkston blocks fate was uncertain. Residents campaigned to save some. However the bid for the 2018 Youth Olympics led to their demolition. The bid was unsuccessful but the regeneration continued.
Today Sighthill is a changed place. Thousands of new homes have been built. There are new green areas and better connections to the Forth and Clyde Canal. The Sighthill Bridge a modern structure has replaced an older pedestrian bridge. It is known locally as Rusty Bridge. It weighs 1000 tonnes.
The transformation also includes a new school campus and Sighthill Park. It’s home to a unique stone circle. This is the first astronomically aligned stone circle built in Britain in 3000 years. It stands as a tribute to ancient megalith builders and the scientists who studied them. This is a story of a community’s resilience and a neighborhood reborn. A place where the past is remembered. The present is vibrant. And the future holds promise.