September 25 2024

Updated plans for an 'eco-friendly' community in Finnieston have been submitted by Redevco and Cooper Cromar, as part of a general reconfiguration for the build-to-rent market.

Joining a wave of residential construction in the area the project will champion its green credentials by throwing out approved plans for a gas-fired combined heat and power plant, replacing it with a heat recovery system.

On the back of these changes the consultant team have looked again at the project, opting to reduce massing to Minerva Way. The northern block has also been straightened and pushed back from the site boundary to allow a children's play area to be created.

Adapting the classical order of St Vincent Crescent the new buildings will include deep reveals, a heavy base and a light pilaster crown.

Cooper Cromar wrote: "Similar to the restricted colour palette of the Finnieston locale, we are looking at a textured natural toned brickwork with architectural interest above windows and at double stacked floor edges. Architectural ironwork at balustrades will also be designed to add playful interest at openings.

"The softer internal courtyard harks back to Glasgow’s well-established architectural language of external matt masonry and inner light glazed brick courts. The Terracotta, whilst reflecting light and seasons, creates a dynamic green mantle adjacent to the leafy central core of the proposal."

The revised scheme now takes the form of an open-sided landscaped square framed by two apartment blocks, replacing an existing gym at 11 Minerva Way, defined by a no-build zone through the middle of the site mandated by railway tunnels.  

6 Comments

#1 Posted by Bob Smith on 25 Sep 2024 at 11:04 AM

wowzers ..... much better

#2 Posted by Ben on 25 Sep 2024 at 11:54 AM

Fantastic proposal and a great example for other inner city sites across Scotland...Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh take note!

#3 Posted by Miner criticisms on 25 Sep 2024 at 12:43 PM

Credit where credit is due, this is a huge improvement over the previous scheme, and having worked with Redevco I can't imagine it was easy to get them to sign on to the changes. I feel the strongest part of the scheme is the shoulder to the right of image 1. It would have been nice to see that come forward to meet the street more enthusiastically - potentially even following the curve of the street? - rather than hiding away behind the bloated eight storey element on the corner which doesn't present a particularly inviting face to approaching pedestrians. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the description but surely the children's play area would be better placed in the back court of the development where passive observation is more dependable and there isn't road traffic to contend with.

#4 Posted by town planner on 25 Sep 2024 at 13:13 PM

Would agree these look like an improvement on previous plans, good job.

#5 Posted by devilish advocaat on 25 Sep 2024 at 14:24 PM

How refreshing to see something other than PBSA being proposed.

#6 Posted by Lovely on 28 Sep 2024 at 07:58 AM

Looks more North American than Glaswegian, very un-contextual.

Saying that a very large new build development is 'eco-friendly' in a country full of empty falling down buildings should never be allowed to wash.

Nicer than usual visuals though it has to be said.

And just to further ruin your weekend, a very large BTR vehicle being built by an offshore entity should also not ever be called 'eco-friendly' as people forget that community, social elements and long term live-ability are also a very important part of that name tag and given that everything is now called 'eco' should we not perhaps stop using that tag all the time on everything and focus on real community and sustainability?

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