Decaying Spaces Map
As part of my research project, I created a map of pinned decaying spaces. Al these spaces are known by the council, and have been set on the map by a pin.
Underneath the map, you can find a link to the 3D version. The map showcases where those spaces are situated and how they look. I encourage you to maybe visit one or two in person, and see what you notice about the space and the surrounding area!
Original Map
This was the map that I made from the data that was publicly accessible from the council website.
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Purple dots: buildings included in the Buildings at Risk register
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Grey shapes: most recent decaying spaces in Paisley​
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Dark pink shapes: spaces from the 2019 survey
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Light pink shapes: spaces from the 2012 survey
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This was the walking route map that I created based on the wider map on the top of the page. There were three criteria I applied to the wider map to create this second walking route map.
The criteria included:
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Sites would have to be mentioned in either the survey and the strategy (or both) to potentially be included in the online map. When I had this list I contacted the Renfrewshire Land Register representative, to verify the continued existence of the persisting decaying sites before I included them on the map.
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Sites would have to be explorable on foot. This meant that for example sites that were right next to the motorway (M8) or the railway with no possibility of traversing to the site on foot (unless risking injury or unsafe activities) were excluded from the map.
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Sites would need to be reachable within a reasonable time window from the city centre. I set a time parameter of 30 minutes as the maximum length of walking to reach a site. The 30-minute window would allow able-bodied participants to walk to the furthest site in 30 minutes or less, and in doing so pass other sites along their walk back – resulting in a maximum walking route of ±1.30h.
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​These three criteria resulted in the exclusion of 16 sites from the walking route, mainly due to distance, inaccessibility or an already finished re-use of the space when I visited in person. This left 36 sites to be explored on foot. These sites were compiled into the online map and sorted into their location. The sites showcase a mix between privately owned and council-owned spaces but did not include any buildings at risk – as these are part of the architectural asset base in Paisley and predominantly reside in the city centre. They are often protected by policy due to their heritage or listed status, making their re-use by communities too difficult.
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Want to learn more about the sizes of the spaces on the map, or want to understand the location and feel for the space?
Head over to the 3D map! Click the button and once the Google Earth page has loaded, select the 3D function in the right bottom corner of your screen.
While I have you here...
Did you know about the Walk About a Bit initiative by OneRen?
Could we create a Decaying Spaces walking trail?
Who would use it?
