Cuningar Loop Woodland Park, Rutherglen

We developed a 15-hectare park at Cuningar Loop, for Forestry Commission Scotland in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council / Clyde Gateway Regeneration Company. The project formed part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games Legacy to regenerate Glasgow's East End. The site was transformed from a derelict stretch of land into an attractive community green space with trails, picnic areas and play facilities.

A key element of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy was to increase active lifestyles and participation in sport in an area where life expectancy is 7 years below the UK average. Cuningar Loop is located in Rutherglen, across the river from the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village at Dalmarnock.

It has been linked to the former Athletes Village by a new bridge, also built by Robertson Civil Engineering.

Due to its proximity to the River Clyde, there were chemical and biological constraints that required a soil science approach to create a 'safe and accessible' site. Trial proposals were implemented, monitored and refined, and the results used to develop the main contract works.

A vital component of the works was the formation of a 460m haul road to provide the main site access and to service a new crane base. The crane base was required for the construction of a new bridge that would provide pedestrian access across the River Clyde.

Additionally, we liaised with the Clyde Fishermen's Association to ensure wildlife in the river was not affected by our works.

Cuningar Loop is one of 13 Commonwealth Woods, designated as an important part of the legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. They provide outdoor spaces where people can enjoy free events and activities, get active, or just go for a walk in the fresh air.

We also used the project as a learning experience for local school pupils. Get into Engineering was a joint venture between Robertson, Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), Clyde Gateway and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). The 10-week programme for six 5th year students from Stonelaw High School and Trinity High School gave pupils the opportunity to work on a practical project with students from UWS mentoring them throughout the process. The programme gave students a valuable insight into the industry and was well received by all involved.

Through the project we also supported young people through the charity Action for Children. They work with vulnerable and neglected young people and their Youthbuild training programme helps unemployed young people in Glasgow's most deprived areas get experience in construction. To support the groundworks element of their course we created an area on site where the students could safely undertake a number of activities overseen by our staff, including pipe installation, monoblocking and cement work.

It provides a rare, natural leisure space within the city with an opportunity to get active and be inspired by what is available.

There were 31,000 users to the park in its first month and it is hoped that the park and its facilities will attract over 100,000 visitors per year by 2020.