Following a Pre-Application Consultation process earlier this year, Keppie Design submits a planning application on behalf of investment management firm Davidson Kempner and asset management firm Global Mutual for the One Cowcaddens Build to Rent development. Cortland Consult have been the Build to Rent advisors on the project from inception.
The redevelopment of the former Buchanan House will make way for the 594-unit One Cowcaddens scheme which will range in height from seven to 21 storeys. It will deliver a mix of Build to Rent and Private for Sale tenures, alongside residential amenities such as co-working spaces, residents’ lounges and dining spaces, wellness and sky gardens, gym, and multimedia rooms.
One Cowcaddens will also include extensive landscaping throughout the site, including communal growing spaces, children’s play, outdoor sports, and roof terraces that encourage outdoor wellbeing and activities. The landscape and public realm will provide a series of public, semi-private and private amenity spaces for both residents and the existing and wider community.
As part of the project, Buchanan House will be deconstructed and 94% of the existing building fabric will be recycled. The bronze ‘Locomotion’ statue (1967) – designed by Frank Cossell – will be retained as a central feature within the new public realm and is a proud reminder of the site’s rich heritage.
Over 700 cycle spaces and capacity for 100% electric vehicle charging spaces have been included to encourage sustainable travel among residents of One Cowcaddens. Classed as a ’20-minute neighbourhood’ with a ‘WalkScore’ rating of 97/100, One Cowcaddens has received a significant Biodiversity Net Gain of 67% on site, including the planting of over 90 new trees and new habitat creation. A Whole Life Carbon (embodied and operational) analysis supports the redevelopment strategy as having the lowest carbon and environmental impact.
Fronting onto Port Dundas Road, the development will include ground floor commercial units to help to activate the street. The public realm incorporates space for spill out from the commercial units, public seating, planting and pedestrian movement. This supports Glasgow’s City Centre Living Strategy and takes into consideration the future Cowcaddens Road ‘Avenues Plus’ project, which will see the pedestrianisation of a section of Port Dundas Road and the creation of a neighbourhood scale public space.
Davidson Kempner and Global Mutual’s One Cowcaddens scheme has generated £130m capital investment in the city and an additional £2.8m of annual spend within the local community.
