Rosemount Development Trust

Rosemount Development Trust (RDT) is a local charity set up by residents in 1989 to foster community regeneration and to alleviate poverty and unemployment in Royston, a historically deprived area in the North of Glasgow.

In 1997, RDT set up a subsidiary company – Rosemount Workspace – and negotiated a 125 year lease with the British Rail Property Board and Glasgow City Council for the former British Rail Workshops in Royston. With capital and revenue funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and private sector funding in excess of £2,000,000, the construction of new business premises were completed in 1999, providing high quality rental space, local employment and support for the community of Royston. The Workspace continues to be an important community asset which facilitates the trust in delivering its objectives and despite the challenges of recent years currently has a tenancy rate of 97%.

In 2000, following a campaign by locals to save the A-listed Roystonhill Spire from demolition, Rosemount Development Trust formed a second subsidiary company, Roystonhill Spire and Park Ltd, which took on responsibility for maintenance and preservation of the Spire and surrounding parkland.

In the years since, the park has been dramatically improved and has become an important local asset, including a public art and heritage project in 2020 which worked with local people to create 12 mosaic panels illustrating local history, people’s stories and memories of Townhead-Blochairn church.

RDT is currently considering two key projects:

1. Community ownership of Glenconner Park, the primary local green space which Glasgow Life have confirmed will not reopen following the pandemic. Glenconner Park is underused and poorly maintained and RDT hope that community ownership can facilitate significant investment in both the sporting facilities and natural green space, leading to a much improved park for the people of Royston.

2. Development of vacant and derelict land at Provanhill Street. This site sits in the centre of Royston and creates a significant barrier to local people, a well as to future investment and development. RDT has acquired funding to transform what is currently unusable and unsightly into a thriving green space with community hub areas, growing spaces and outdoor classrooms. We are in the early stages of negotiating a long-term lease with a view to a potential future asset transfer.