Residents move into new Laurieston homes
August 15 2014
Keys are being handed over to the first tenants by New Gorbals Housing Association (NGHA) today in a significant milestone toward realisation of a wider £100m master plan for the area.
Once one of Glasgow’s most densely populated areas the district has been decimated by failed regeneration schemes in the 1960s, prompting authorities to go back to square one for a second stab at success.
To that end the Scottish government and Glasgow City Council work with NGHA and developer Urban Union appoint Urban Initiatives to draw up a master plan, later refined by Page\Park. Both Page\Park and Elder & Cannon subsequently developed designs for phase one housing to stage D.
NGHA’s chairperson, Raymond Shannon, commented: “The ambition for Laurieston was to create a beautiful new neighbourhood with a real ‘sense of place’ and I think, collectively, we have achieved that. The development will also integrate well with the 1970s tenements in the adjacent Eglinton Court.”
Bailie Liz Cameron, Glasgow City Council’s executive member for business and the economy said: “The exemplary design procured by NGHA will set the tone for what is sure to become one of the city centre’s most desirable urban neighbourhoods, providing high quality homes across a range of affordability levels.”
A second phase of 108 homes for sale and mid-market rent is scheduled to begin in September. Future phases hold out the prospect of further homes, retail, hotel accommodation and community facilities.
Laurieston is one of eight Transformational Regeneration Areas identified in Glasgow
NGHA are celebrating after opening their 1,000th new build house in Laurieston
Tenants predominantly consist of those re-housed from demolished high-rise blocks
These are the first new homes to be completed in Laurieston since the 1970s
Ultimately over 1,000 homes (including 350 affordable) will be delivered
Wheelchair accessible and large family homes are also being provided
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14 Comments
#1 Posted by Neil C on 15 Aug 2014 at 11:39 AM
The glacial pace of progress is frustrating, but these are absolutely stunning buildings. They shame most modern private builds in terms of design and materials. More of the same, please.
#2 Posted by Art Vandelay on 15 Aug 2014 at 13:41 PM
Brilliantly simple and incredibly well executed, congratulations to all involved. Although I wonder if the residents will get a curtain/blind subsidy for that stunning (if impractical) glazed corner?
#3 Posted by D to the R on 15 Aug 2014 at 17:17 PM
A very important urban development bringing housing and people back into the city. Glasgow's best two masterplanning and housing practices delivering what they can when the budget matches the aspiration - Well done NHGA too !
#4 Posted by Boris de horris on 15 Aug 2014 at 21:06 PM
They are indeed better in terms on materials and design than the average private sector build. However they are hevily subsidised by public sector funds. If they were on the private market the developer would go bust as they would be to expensive to build and nobody would be prepared to pay way over the odds for a nice looking house in Lauriston. Pretty as they are, there not Sustainable
#5 Posted by Monkey9000 on 16 Aug 2014 at 10:59 AM
Boris de horris do you have any examples of well built and well designed private developments that have been unable to sell? I'm curious how you can be so sure of the failure?
#6 Posted by Art Vandelay on 16 Aug 2014 at 15:06 PM
#3 has it spot on - "when the budget matches the aspiration." I'd heard it was about 25-30% more expensive per unit. Notwithstanding that, it looks stunning.
#7 Posted by James on 16 Aug 2014 at 18:53 PM
Interesting points Boris, would be interested to get a sourced and extended insight into that (Urban Realm?).
I do like the scheme though. This should absolutely be the baseline standard for future housing. There's no need for it to be any worse than this because it really isn't that difficult from a design perspective.
I do like the scheme though. This should absolutely be the baseline standard for future housing. There's no need for it to be any worse than this because it really isn't that difficult from a design perspective.
#8 Posted by Borris de horris on 17 Aug 2014 at 09:29 AM
It is a great looking development firstly. Unfortunatly monkey, i cant name any. Private sector developers dont build developments like this full stop, let alone in secondary areas. They simply dont stack up financially thus they dont get built, other than public sector developers who have been given additional funding.
Unfortunately James this will never become the baseline standard for housing as the general public is not prepared to pay 30%+ over the odds for a development like this. In terms of an investment, (as we all view our properties) you would just lose money.
As an example look at the homes for the future at Glasgow green. You can pick one of the flats up for less than they were origionally sold for when they were new. Did the developers make money on the development ? Well there wasn't a phase 2 was there.
Architects / Designers are the only people who get really excited about theses developments, and their probably not the ones who are going to buy them.
I would reiterate that this is a nice looking development, however in the real world it just wouldn't happen.
Unfortunately James this will never become the baseline standard for housing as the general public is not prepared to pay 30%+ over the odds for a development like this. In terms of an investment, (as we all view our properties) you would just lose money.
As an example look at the homes for the future at Glasgow green. You can pick one of the flats up for less than they were origionally sold for when they were new. Did the developers make money on the development ? Well there wasn't a phase 2 was there.
Architects / Designers are the only people who get really excited about theses developments, and their probably not the ones who are going to buy them.
I would reiterate that this is a nice looking development, however in the real world it just wouldn't happen.
#9 Posted by norman mcnamee on 17 Aug 2014 at 11:29 AM
I was at the opening and wandered around taking photos, I was impressed at the standard and wondered how much these house would cost to buy. I too wonders about the cost of blinds etc for the large glass fronted flats. Having said that, knowing what the tenants are moving from, I am sure they will like their new houses, I will continue to take photos when they are occupied
#10 Posted by Charlie_ on 17 Aug 2014 at 12:01 PM
Then doesn't it fall on the public sector to step in more often to correct an obvious market failure? A development like this isn't just a transaction between the developer and home buyers, after all.
#11 Posted by Jimbob Tanktop on 18 Aug 2014 at 14:00 PM
The finances stack up. Profitability from this kind of development is easily achievable, if the will existed to stop treating housing like any other commodity, to be invested in by any passing fly-by-night from whatever part of the world, looking for the 10% annual return offered by agents and developers.
At UK level, given the density they have in England, their levels of population growth and the effective neo-liberal consensus which prevails there, the government will not act, but here in Scotland, the government can affect change in the quality of housing currently being offered to people. It's not like housing is cheap - the average house in Scotland is currently valued at something like 8 times annual average salary. But by offering enormous incentives for brown field developments, minimum standards for design quality and taxing land-bankers, the standard of housing other European countries take for granted - in the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland or elsewhere - is realisable.
At UK level, given the density they have in England, their levels of population growth and the effective neo-liberal consensus which prevails there, the government will not act, but here in Scotland, the government can affect change in the quality of housing currently being offered to people. It's not like housing is cheap - the average house in Scotland is currently valued at something like 8 times annual average salary. But by offering enormous incentives for brown field developments, minimum standards for design quality and taxing land-bankers, the standard of housing other European countries take for granted - in the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland or elsewhere - is realisable.
#12 Posted by Egbert on 19 Aug 2014 at 10:48 AM
Spot on #11, couldn't agree more. The other option open to Scotland is for local authorities to pursue the kind of civic development model seen in Scandi countries - actively planning, assembling land and developing/letting as part of a co-ordinated model driven by the needs of the place rather than skewed by developers' profit drives.
#13 Posted by Carla on 25 Aug 2014 at 09:25 AM
Very disappointingly it looks like they forgot to re-connect the cycle route from surrey street through Norfolk Court to the to the suspension bridge...
...a fairly basic urban design error I'd have thought. All they really needed to do was ensure a drop kerb was reinstated to the south side of the street.
The word on the street is that the next (commercially funded) phase will be a little more 'budget' in space standards and facade treatment.
...a fairly basic urban design error I'd have thought. All they really needed to do was ensure a drop kerb was reinstated to the south side of the street.
The word on the street is that the next (commercially funded) phase will be a little more 'budget' in space standards and facade treatment.
#14 Posted by Rem Koolbag on 25 Aug 2014 at 11:58 AM
I think this is a very churlish comment to level at such a good scheme. Do you not have anything better to be doing with your time?
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