Thornliebank

Thornliebank is a compact urban settlement with a strong industrial heritage and an important role within East Renfrewshire’s urban area. Located on the boundary with Glasgow, the town benefits from excellent public transport connections, including a railway station with direct access to Glasgow city centre, established residential neighbourhoods, neighbourhood centre, schools, healthcare facilities and community services.

Local employment areas, including Spiersbridge Business Park continue to play an important economic role, while established parks, including Rouken Glen and Eastwood Park, wider network of greenspaces and community facilities contribute to quality of life. The town’s strategic location, strong transport links and proximity to Glasgow support local living principles by providing access to employment, services and sustainable travel opportunities.

Future development in Thornliebank will focus on regeneration, environmental improvement and the productive reuse of brownfield, vacant and underused land. Opportunities for major expansion are limited; however, the area contains important opportunities to improve neighbourhoods, strengthen the neighbourhood centre, support housing delivery and create healthier and more attractive places. Regeneration initiatives, including the Thornliebank Place Strategy, improvements to community facilities and the long-term regeneration opportunity at Robslee, will help support investment and enhance the quality of the built environment.

Development should reinforce Thornliebank's role as a sustainable and well-connected urban community while improving access to local services, enhancing walking, wheeling and cycling connections, strengthening biodiversity and green infrastructure, and ensuring infrastructure and environmental improvements are delivered alongside growth.

Key Place Priorities for Thornliebank

Regeneration, redevelopment and investment in Thornliebank will be supported where they contribute to the long-term improvement of the area, enhance quality of life and are accompanied by the infrastructure, environmental improvements and community benefits required to support sustainable growth.

Housing and Regeneration

The strategy will:

  • Promote the regeneration, redevelopment and productive reuse of brownfield, vacant and underused land and buildings.
  • Support regeneration opportunities, including Robslee Drive (PP7.7).
  • Encourage development that improves the quality, attractiveness and sustainability of the local environment.


Centres, Services and Community Facilities

The strategy will:

  • Support the regeneration and enhancement of Thornliebank Neighbourhood Centre (PP4.27) as a focus for local services, community activity and investment.
  • Support the delivery of the Thornliebank Place Strategy (PP4.42).
  • Maintain and enhance access to local services and community facilities.
  • Reinforce Thornliebank's role as an attractive, connected and sustainable urban community.

Movement and Connectivity

The strategy will:

  • Improve walking, wheeling and cycling connections within Thornliebank and to surrounding communities, services and greenspaces.
  • Support improvements to public transport accessibility and connectivity.
  • Ensure education, healthcare and community infrastructure capacity remains aligned with local needs and future development.
  • Promote sustainable travel choices and improve access to employment, services and recreation opportunities.

Economy, Environment and Green Networks

The strategy will:

  • Support continued investment and economic activity within Spiersbridge Business Park (PP1.15).
  • Protect, enhance and expand biodiversity, blue and green infrastructure, urban greening and nature networks.
  • Maintain and improve parks, open spaces, play facilities and recreation opportunities, including at Rouken Glen Park (SP5.7).
  • Enhance environmental quality, climate resilience and access to green spaces as part of regeneration and development initiatives.

Thornliebank is a compact urban settlement with a strong industrial heritage and an important role within East Renfrewshire’s urban area. Located on the boundary with Glasgow, the town benefits from excellent public transport connections, including a railway station with direct access to Glasgow city centre, established residential neighbourhoods, neighbourhood centre, schools, healthcare facilities and community services.

Local employment areas, including Spiersbridge Business Park continue to play an important economic role, while established parks, including Rouken Glen and Eastwood Park, wider network of greenspaces and community facilities contribute to quality of life. The town’s strategic location, strong transport links and proximity to Glasgow support local living principles by providing access to employment, services and sustainable travel opportunities.

Future development in Thornliebank will focus on regeneration, environmental improvement and the productive reuse of brownfield, vacant and underused land. Opportunities for major expansion are limited; however, the area contains important opportunities to improve neighbourhoods, strengthen the neighbourhood centre, support housing delivery and create healthier and more attractive places. Regeneration initiatives, including the Thornliebank Place Strategy, improvements to community facilities and the long-term regeneration opportunity at Robslee, will help support investment and enhance the quality of the built environment.

Development should reinforce Thornliebank's role as a sustainable and well-connected urban community while improving access to local services, enhancing walking, wheeling and cycling connections, strengthening biodiversity and green infrastructure, and ensuring infrastructure and environmental improvements are delivered alongside growth.

Key Place Priorities for Thornliebank

Regeneration, redevelopment and investment in Thornliebank will be supported where they contribute to the long-term improvement of the area, enhance quality of life and are accompanied by the infrastructure, environmental improvements and community benefits required to support sustainable growth.

Housing and Regeneration

The strategy will:

  • Promote the regeneration, redevelopment and productive reuse of brownfield, vacant and underused land and buildings.
  • Support regeneration opportunities, including Robslee Drive (PP7.7).
  • Encourage development that improves the quality, attractiveness and sustainability of the local environment.


Centres, Services and Community Facilities

The strategy will:

  • Support the regeneration and enhancement of Thornliebank Neighbourhood Centre (PP4.27) as a focus for local services, community activity and investment.
  • Support the delivery of the Thornliebank Place Strategy (PP4.42).
  • Maintain and enhance access to local services and community facilities.
  • Reinforce Thornliebank's role as an attractive, connected and sustainable urban community.

Movement and Connectivity

The strategy will:

  • Improve walking, wheeling and cycling connections within Thornliebank and to surrounding communities, services and greenspaces.
  • Support improvements to public transport accessibility and connectivity.
  • Ensure education, healthcare and community infrastructure capacity remains aligned with local needs and future development.
  • Promote sustainable travel choices and improve access to employment, services and recreation opportunities.

Economy, Environment and Green Networks

The strategy will:

  • Support continued investment and economic activity within Spiersbridge Business Park (PP1.15).
  • Protect, enhance and expand biodiversity, blue and green infrastructure, urban greening and nature networks.
  • Maintain and improve parks, open spaces, play facilities and recreation opportunities, including at Rouken Glen Park (SP5.7).
  • Enhance environmental quality, climate resilience and access to green spaces as part of regeneration and development initiatives.

Page published: 29 Sep 2026, 11:52 AM