March 5 2019

Queensberry Properties are going back to the drawing board with plans for residential development at Glasgow’s Otago Lane since acquiring the site last year – potentially ending a three-decade-long saga to develop the site.

Newly submitted plans from jmarchitects call for 49 flats to be delivered in four blocks along the riverbank, which will be landscaped by RankinFraser to retain existing trees while creating semi-private courtyards between each.

In a massing statement the architects wrote: “Within the wedge-shaped site, Block A has been located adjacent to the existing properties to help reinstate the fabric of the lane.

“The gable of block D faces onto Otago Lane and careful consideration of the elevational treatment has been taken. To negate any privacy issues, only two windows are located on this gable. It is proposed that the façade will be wired to allow climbing plants to green the façade, and to enhance the environment on the lane.

“The two largest blocks, B and C, are located to the east of the site. They are set back from the site’s boundary to ensure a substantial green corridor borders the river.”

Two storey setbacks are introduced at a high level to soften apparent scale with a palette of light brick above a darker base course. Projecting balconies and roof terraces will activate the river frontages.

12 Comments

#1 Posted by Eco-maniac on 5 Mar 2019 at 11:53 AM

Won't someone think of the Otters?

#2 Posted by Not-for-me on 5 Mar 2019 at 11:59 AM

Scale all wrong. Development all wrong. What a shame.

Lazy architecture taking no note of the context or community. What a real shame.

#3 Posted by Poirot on 5 Mar 2019 at 12:13 PM

Nice elevation treatment there. I especially like the tree effect to make it blend in.... oh wait...

#4 Posted by The decider on 5 Mar 2019 at 12:15 PM

“Within the wedge-shaped site, Block A has been located adjacent to the existing properties to help reinstate the fabric of the lane."

Who at jmarchitects writes this tripe?

#5 Posted by David SHeddan on 5 Mar 2019 at 12:31 PM

Brilliant - new builds are better than derelict or wasted space - more like these please!

#6 Posted by Gandalf the Pink on 5 Mar 2019 at 12:59 PM

Block D will be lovely.

#7 Posted by Johnny B Good on 5 Mar 2019 at 12:59 PM

The Part 1 has had his fun formulating that Design and Access Statement...

Project looks so-so, not too inspiring and perhaps a used opportunity. Ultimately glad to see something developed at this location. Will watch the VE with interest...

#8 Posted by Stevie Wonder on 5 Mar 2019 at 14:06 PM

From what I see, I love it!

#9 Posted by Ray Charles on 5 Mar 2019 at 14:24 PM

I wish I could see it so I could be disappointed.

#10 Posted by Harry Otter on 6 Mar 2019 at 07:55 AM

What about the green corridor?

Blatant disregard in the search for ££s. Architecture is bland as well. If we are going to destroy the environment let's at least create something worth destroying it for.

#11 Posted by Walt Disney on 6 Mar 2019 at 16:58 PM

#10 Not sure that removing scrubby trees is destroying the environment. Its a massive leap in quality compared the the HA stuff on Otago Street and that hellish student housing thing on Gibson Street. I always thought that the park by the Kelvin never felt attractive as there was no frontage overlooking it. Gets my vote.

#12 Posted by A Local Pleb on 7 Mar 2019 at 13:14 PM

Put aside the architectural merits or otherwise of the design the development should not be allowed to happen. This is not a brownfield site crying out for reuse, it's very tight and I'd hate to be a resident who will no doubt pay a pretty penny to live like a sardine amongst a sea of cars!

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