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Backlash against Glasgow Harbour flats proposal gathers pace

December 3 2014

Backlash against Glasgow Harbour flats proposal gathers pace
Controversial plans to erect a block of flats at Glasgow Harbour, the final phase of the riverfront development, are facing a growing backlash as politicians, residents and local’s rail against the design and tenure being proposed by developer Dandara.

Existing tenants are furious at what they see as a dumbing down of the original master plan, which called for 23 storey and 17 storey ‘bookend’ towers clad in granite, copper and ceramic terracotta offering a range of properties for sale.

This has been superceded with a  single 16 storey block, stepping down to 12 storeys, offering 348 for private let clad in acid etched concrete panels – dubbed ‘Benidorm without the beach’ by one resident.

Speaking to STV News Urban Realm editor John Glenday said: “The recession was an opportunity for developers to think again, to take stock of the failed economic models of the past. What we’re seeing with the Dandara proposal is that no lessons have been learned, that in fact we’re repeating the mistakes of the past and pursuing short-term profits at the expense of longer term sustainability.”

A deadline for objections to the proposal passes today.
Revised plans for the gap site have not been well received
Revised plans for the gap site have not been well received

7 Comments

Joslyn
#1 Posted by Joslyn on 3 Dec 2014 at 12:46 PM
The original proposals were for 5 consistent slender towers to the river and what was proposed was a regular counterpoint to the collage of Phase 1.... this now unfortunately moves well away from what were some nice proposals.
There's a block just like it in Aberdeen:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.1541343,-2.1020165,3a,90y,241.39h,89.45t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sYRqFqe3WoNKQbrWTTLWucQ!2e0
Vincent
#2 Posted by Vincent on 3 Dec 2014 at 14:38 PM
Looks like a refurb of the housing at St Vincent Terrace....
George
#3 Posted by George on 4 Dec 2014 at 11:10 AM
Surely Glasgow City Council won't give planning permission to something that looks as terrible as this on a key upmarket development site beside the river. It looks like the kind of tower block that they are spending millions of pounds demolishing in Glasgow just now.
Sven
#4 Posted by Sven on 4 Dec 2014 at 13:58 PM
I am appalled by the design, high density and blatant profiteering. Given that Glasgow has a very high level of derelict land within its small boundaries, why the need for such high density apartments? In Europe large 4-6 bedroom flats with large puplic rooms are normal. In the UK pokey 2 bedroom flats seem to be the rule.
D to the R
#5 Posted by D to the R on 8 Dec 2014 at 08:36 AM
Sven ... To paraphrase a recent Top 40 Hit, developers say .... ' I need the dollar dollar, dollar is what i need !'
snosno
#6 Posted by snosno on 10 Dec 2014 at 11:59 AM
Costa Del Clyde in fill 2D glory... It's awful nice.

I think the problem is that as the changes are superficial to the planning permission granted the go ahead will happen unless there is a "taste" clause.
Alan
#7 Posted by Alan on 11 Dec 2014 at 15:40 PM
Dandara and their new pet architects Mason really do seem to be pushing the boat out on the stack them high, build them cheap, single aspectwho cares what they look like or what the urban response should be approach.

This will no doubt be repeated and ignorantly inflated on their other site along by the kingston bridge

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