May 11 2022

Updated plans to redevelop Shawlands Arcade have been shared at a second-stage consultation event helmed by the current owners, Clydebuilt LP.

Addressing waning footfall at the 1960's arcade, where a fifth of the units currently lie empty, the £150m proposals call for a high density housing above ground floor commercial units.

This blank slate approach will permit the pavement along Kilmarnock Road to double in width by removing a high level walkway, providing breathing room for a range of public realm enhancements with around half of the total site area (12,000sq/m) earmarked as green space.

The landscape strategy will drive a new avenue off Kilmarnock Road into the heart of the site, providing access to a range of interior spaces suitable for gatherings, play and small events. Varied facade treatments and massing will break down the apparent mass of the new structure with corner elements given strong vertical emphasis.

Outlining the push for a 'green heart' the consultation documents state: "The civic centre, activated by ground floor retail uses to each side, is easy to walk through and features planted areas with enclosed pockets of public seating. It culminates with a generous staircase which transitions the existing level change. The stair is purposefully large to make this route inviting and breaks down into seating at its edges, creating a place to pause and offers gathering space for events.

"The stair will have an associated urban platform lift to make this level change accessible to all users."

A phased programme of works will see half of the arcade remain operational while the other portion is developed, with phase 1 constituting 332 apartments with 30 parking spaces.

A planning application by Haus Collective is expected by the autumn, permitting a start on site by summer 2023.

11 Comments

#1 Posted by Sue Pearman on 11 May 2022 at 09:24 AM

The biggest problem with the current edifice is the detachment from the street. It's disappointing to see they've not managed to resolve this and there are still a lot of obstructions between the facade and the road. Disappointing. The previous effort was better I thought.

#2 Posted by modernish on 11 May 2022 at 09:57 AM

Never going to happen. But I suppose it's better to pay for these sort of schemes than to pay tax of profits. Suggesting an unfeasibly dense scheme will allow the 'value' of the land to be inflated ahead of a sale for a more mundane and deliverable scheme. Property development economics 101.

#3 Posted by MV on 11 May 2022 at 15:55 PM

BRICK!! Everywhere...

#4 Posted by Ghost on 12 May 2022 at 08:54 AM

Bowf! Looks like a Travelodge!

The window proportions and elevational composition are awful.

How disappointed would you be if that was the main building on your high street?!

#5 Posted by Ex-soosider on 12 May 2022 at 09:36 AM

And to think that the southside used to have a certain 'douce' quality to it...
Are architects aware of these 'things', or do they exist to merely facilitate the movement of capital?

#6 Posted by Jimbob Tanktop on 12 May 2022 at 21:36 PM

#5 They merely facilitate the movement of capital

#7 Posted by Darren on 12 May 2022 at 23:59 PM

It's just by the numbers architecture. The massing and height is all wrong and will look completely out of place. Bland brick overload. This may sound weird, but the way they were talking, it reminded me a bit of a place I visited whilst in Los Angeles called The Hollywood and Highland centre. Nothing as upmarket as that or grand, but that style. Apartments, shops and restaurants arranged around a central events and outdoor space. Well designed with a real sense of place making, something special for the southside. But instead we get this crap, boring, bland and anywhere architecture. Which of course the city council will eat up, because they lack genuine ambition

#8 Posted by Moira Mclean on 14 May 2022 at 11:26 AM

Shawlands does NOT need more flats.The demand on GP practices, dental and other services will also increase.
Neighbouring Pollokshaws and old Victoria Infirmary are building flats, how many more people ???? Yes Shawlands arcade requires refurbishment but not the additional flats.

#9 Posted by Jaded on 15 May 2022 at 20:27 PM

Moira, you are aware that more people living in an area means more services will open?

Unbelievably, places like Manhattan have been able to cope with buildings exceeding 5 floors without resorting to Mad Max style anarchy.

#10 Posted by modernish on 16 May 2022 at 10:58 AM

@#9 - To be fair, you pay for a doctors appointment in Manhattan so as long as you can afford it there isn't a problem seeing one. If you can't well, you can't. I'm not sure if that is Mad Max style anarchy or just market economics. But either way the picture is slightly more nuanced

#11 Posted by Ilias Hisset on 17 May 2022 at 10:47 AM

The site sits midway between the 5 storey tenements of Springhill Gardens, Camphill Gate, etc, and the 23 storey blocks at Shawbridge, so the proposal is hardly out of scale. The modulation of the Kilmarnock Rd expanse is welcome, if boring. The unresolved pavement levels are unforgivable. As for the price of a Manhattan doctors appointment, I wonder how it compares to cheese...

Post your comments