Edinburgh and Glasgow could amalgamate within the next 30 to 50 years (Image: Getty)
Two famous Scottish will inevitably ‘merge into giant within decades. Professor Roy Thompson of Edinburgh University has said he expects and Glasgow to amalgamate within the next 30 to 50 years.
His work is based on a prediction concocted in the 1920s by urban planner Sir Patrick Geddes. Modern satellite imagery shows that gaps between the two cities are steadily shrinking.
is renowned for the beautiful , perched atop Castle Rock the landmark offers panoramic views of the city whilst Glasgow is home to various museums and galleries. But the two cities’ landmarks could soon be joined together.
In the early 21st century, predictions were made that the urban areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh, whose centres are approximately 41 miles, could merge to form a single supercity.
Sir Patrick pictured a Central Belt called ‘Clydeforth’ that would have Edinburgh and Glasgow eventually merging together to form one city.
Gaps between the two Scottish cities are steadily shrinking (Image: Getty)
Professor Thompson said: “That amalgamation and transformation didn’t happen in Geddes’ lifetime, but I feel with the current round of urban sprawl it will soon be upon us.
“I’ve been looking at satellite data to see how large the urban and suburban areas now are. I was astonished by how good a prediction Geddes made a long time ago.
“Glasgow was the second city of the Empire and was growing tremendously. He made his prediction just as that came to an end, so it never happened in his lifetime. But it looks to me that it’s very close.
“There are all these extra villages now that never used to be there – and they’re all joining up.”
Edinburgh and Glasgow could merge within decades (Image: Getty)
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Professor Thompson continued: “I’ve walked hundreds of miles through the Lothians and observed how much is changing every time I go back. That got me interested in Geddes’ prediction from back in the 1920s that Glasgow and Edinburgh would coalesce.
“One of the walks I lead is along the River Almond, which runs through Livingston, Kirkliston and Winchburgh, and you can see how they have begun to come together.
“The speed at which this is going in what I’m trying to calculate.”
A Scottish Government spokesman insisted there were “no plans” for the two cities to fuse together.
The spokesperson told : “Edinburgh and Glasgow are great cities in their own right and through our city region deals we are working with all our cities to unlock investment and stimulate sustainable growth.”
MSP Graham Simpson hopes the cities remain individuals, the Tory housing spokesman said: “The planning system needs to deliver more homes and new towns, but the last thing we’d want is a massive urban sprawl stretching 50 miles.”