Business resilience themes: Place
Business Profile
Possilpark has experienced significant changes over recent years as is similar for many town centre areas throughout Scotland. It has a consistent, high-ranking position in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation which exacerbates day to day challenges for businesses. Litter, fly-tipping, crime, feelings of safety alongside access issues are a problem for many businesses.
The rise in energy costs is putting more pressure on businesses and the impacts of climate change add even more pressure. The town centre requires a continued coordinated response from all businesses to address these problems.
The Possilpark BID is branded as Remaking Saracen
Climate impacts
Possilpark is exposed to a number of climate risks which have affected businesses in recent years. These include:
- Flooding in the high street: Saracen Street forms the main high street in Possilpark, and the area has faced significant and repeated flooding in recent years. Even on dry days, there are often multiple areas of pooled water, often blocking access for disabled residents and customers, resulting in reduced customer footfall. This is also linked to litter issues, where wind has caused litter to spill into the street and clog up drains.
- Overheating in outdoor areas: While businesses haven’t faced significant issues with indoor heat stress, this has been an issue for the areas around Saracen Street, including Millennium Square where there is little shade nor green space available. This has made it less attractive for people to use take-away food outlets nearby, or to spend time in the area and continue to shop throughout the day.
- Extreme wind and storms: Residents described Saracen Street as a ‘wind tunnel’, making it a less pleasant place to spend time. The lack of trees and shelter has exacerbated this issue, and some damage to shop fronts and buildings has occurred.
Actions taken
In 2024 the Possilpark Business Improvement District took part in a pilot project as part of Glasgow City Council’s Green Business Support programme, which helps local companies transition to Net-Zero, reduce their energy costs and become more resilient to climate change. As part of this project, the sustainability charity Sniffer supported the Business Improvement District to understand its climate risks and prioritise the resilience actions the business can take.
This included a collaborative climate risk and opportunities mapping event. This brought together members of the Business Improvement District, customers, and local residents associations to collectively map key hazards, and identify potential actions to improve business resilience and make Saracen Street and the surrounding area a more pleasant, inviting, and thriving place. A graphic illustrating the hazards and opportunities was produced, and is being used to inform the next stage of plans for the Possilpark Business Improvement District.
An illustration from the climate risk and opportunities mapping event in February 2024
