March 10 2022

Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios have trailed plans for a 'sustainable urban neighbourhood' in Finnieston, Glasgow, of between 400-425 homes.

A 0.95-hectare site bounded by Minerva Street, Finnieston Street and West Greenhill Place has been purchased by Keltbray Developments to accommodate hundreds of build to rent apartments alongside flats for private sale.

Focussed on improving pedestrian and cycle permeability to encourage car-free living the development will incorporate a new east-west street and ground floor public spaces and a central plaza overseen by Open to establish a sense of place.

The new route will be controlled by raising bollards to limit vehicle access with a planted 'feature wall' establishing a northern edge to the development.

A digital consultation event is scheduled to take place this afternoon between 15:00 and 19:00 at which the plans will be presented in greater detail.

The development forms part of an urban block that includes a former brass foundry, which is itself up for redevelopment. 

12 Comments

#1 Posted by Sue Pearman on 10 Mar 2022 at 11:47 AM

This seems to be insanely overscaled for the location, given the context is the adjacent conservation area.

#2 Posted by Depressing direction on 10 Mar 2022 at 12:05 PM

This is another example of a very worrying trend in proposed developments in Glasgow, with a majority of proposed flats being single aspect, accessed off a central corridor.
The City's planning guidance specifically discourages the use of single aspect flats, partially because of past experiences in the city with 'single end' properties, with poor natural ventilation and low natural light leading to physical and mental health issues. Whilst large windows and mechanical ventilation can mitigate this somewhat, the underlying issue, low sunlight and damp environment, still remains.
The best of this city's housing stock have a simple central core with flats either side, front and rear facades with openable windows and through ventilation.
Presumably this developer has chosen to ignore the city's guidance or Planning have capitulated yet again to allow very many single aspect flats.

#3 Posted by Mick on 10 Mar 2022 at 13:38 PM

Cycle permeability? Eh?

#4 Posted by Gordon on 10 Mar 2022 at 15:46 PM

Is there a dictionary of buzz words for architects?
Really must get a copy.

#5 Posted by Jimbob Tanktop on 10 Mar 2022 at 18:41 PM

Thank God it's sustainable. I was worried it wouldn't be sustainable. But it is sustainable.

#6 Posted by m8 cycleway on 11 Mar 2022 at 09:41 AM

If I'm reading this correctly - they're proposing a car free development.
The area has great public transport connections. BUT it is also located directly adjacent the expressway with on/off ramps connecting Scotlands most heavily used motorway. It seems a far stretch to say that those living there will not have/want cars. More than likely every flat will have access to a car and this would only put even more pressure on the extremely limited parking in the surrounding Finnieston district. ... Or people will cycle to work every day along the m8?

#7 Posted by Mary HillIsWonderful on 11 Mar 2022 at 10:32 AM

Built to rent! MORE built to rent! Are people not expected to own there own home any more? Have we given up on fixing the housing crisis? I'm sure the cost of living will come down as soon as we all have institutional investors for landlords. Oh, and also ... don't even think about owning a car.

#8 Posted by Cptn Obvs on 11 Mar 2022 at 11:45 AM

All the charm of the Collegelands Poxy-Moxy Hotel masquerading as rented accommodation, Jesus wept...

#9 Posted by Emlyn on 11 Mar 2022 at 11:51 AM

What is going on with the comments on this? This proposal looks excellent from a city planning perspective, this is exactly the kind of development we should be encouraging in Glasgow.
Active street frontages, mixed use, well designed public space with trees, pedestrian permeability, mixed tenure and form of dwellings. Limited car parking is essential if we want to save the human race from catastrophic climate change. Living in this neighbourhood is all about walking anyways and it's literally right beside the train station. Also this is the right density for this site, the tall building is setback from the street and does not impede on any historic buildings. Its enough density to bring higher tax revenue and for concentration of services but not too much to be overbuilt on this site. Brilliant! built it!

#10 Posted by Robin B's Discount on 11 Mar 2022 at 13:35 PM

Anyone fancy a quick game of Spot the Developer?

#11 Posted by Mary Hillis-Wunderbar on 11 Mar 2022 at 17:24 PM

"hundreds of build to rent apartments alongside flats for private sale" - suspiciously worded. How many flats for private sale? Presumably not hundreds.

#12 Posted by Peter on 14 Mar 2022 at 09:18 AM

Wait a second, there's Moxy already across the express way! At least this one will be sustainable. It's ugly enough for Glasgow standards, carry on lads.

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