Douglas Valley Community-led Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism Feasibility and Concept Design

South Lanarkshire Council's (SLC) Community and Enterprise Resources, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Services, wishes to commission an Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism Feasibility Study to RIBA Stage 1, in and around the Hagshaw Energy Cluster in South Lanarkshire via a Quick Quote procedure.

The project has been requested by the community-led Douglas Valley Advisory Group (DVAG), to define a clear picture of how the area and its assets can be used to stimulate low impact, community-led outdoor recreation and adventure tourism developments and improvements, as well as the business models required to do so.

The Feasibility Study, covering RIBA Stage 0 – 1, will encompass all of the land within the existing Hagshaw Energy Cluster plus consented proposals but assess and review opportunities to drive outdoor recreation and adventure tourism across the four Community Council areas of Coalburn, Douglas and Glespin, Lesmahagow and Rigside and Douglas Water.

It will consider five Forestry and Land Scotland sites at Mainshill, Glenbuck and Lesmahagow, as well as Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands SPA, Muirkirk Uplands SSSI and Coalburn Moss SSSI and SAC, Douglas West Community Woodland, and Loudon Pond Nature Reserve, plus access between sites.

It will map out and connect to existing recreational opportunities in the Douglas Valley including walking and cycling routes, agritourism, ecotourism, community centres and facilities (for example, Coalburn Miners Welfare and Douglas St. Bride’s Community Centre), Coalburn Swimming Pool, Douglas Pump Track, MUGAs, football pitches and playspaces in each settlement.

The Hagshaw Energy Cluster comprises of Hagshaw Hill, Hagshaw Hill Extension, Galawhistle, Nutberry, Douglas West, Dalquhandy and Cumberhead Windfarms. Consented windfarms are Hagshaw Hill Repowering (2023), Hare Craig (2028), Cumberhead West (2024) and Douglas West Extension (2024) and so phased proposals and appropriate draft timelines will be required.

The Feasibility and Concept Design will set out the potential for low impact, community-led adventure tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities that support the development of sustainable local communities, the enhancement of health and well-being of residents, agritourism and ecotourism potential and associated employment opportunities in line with landowner, community, and stakeholder aspirations.

It will:

• Use an evidence-based approach to develop a spatial plan for new, low impact facilities, including a community-led Outdoor Recreation and Adventure hub
• Set out a phased delivery map for the enhancement or creation of multi-use paths linking proposed developments and local communities
• Develop a phased and strategic approach to community-led, low impact development and inward investment, including support to implement community benefit funding associated with the windfarms plus other national funds
• Identify appropriate and proportionate enforcement strategies to deter illegal and antisocial use of the area in line with proposals
• Set out the standards for nature based low impact outdoor recreation and access provision through new developments

Lots

This procurement was divided into 1 lots, each awarded separately.