The proposal for 131 Minerva Street in Finnieston – a former brass foundry currently used as offices – is just a stone’s throw away from the main venue for COP26, and contains a host of features placing it at the sharp end of environmentally-friendly residential developments.

Sustainability and residents’ physical and mental wellbeing are at the heart of architect HAUS Collective’s designs for a mixture of 64 one-, two- and three-bedroom flats – all of which will feature their own private balcony.

Developer Nevis Properties has actively gone beyond the sustainability requirements set out in Glasgow’s City Development Plan, adopting a low-carbon focus with an emphasis on energy efficient materials and green technologies.

This includes a high efficiency centralised combined heat and power (CHP) system which makes use of ‘reclaimed heat’ to reduce energy use, as well as supplementing power to six electrical vehicle chargers. The Minerva Street development also features a rooftop photovoltaic solar panel array to provide free clean energy to offset conventional power consumption in the building. 

HAUS has developed three separate amenity gardens including a stunning seventh floor rooftop residents’ terrace with views across the south side of Glasgow. All three amenity decks have been designed to help build a sense of community – with an outdoor exercise space on one terrace and an area for communal dining on another.

The site, right next to Exhibition Centre train station, was chosen due to its excellent transport connectivity, which includes multiple bus links and a walkable commute to the city centre. The development features reduced car parking as a consequence to encourage sustainable living. 

Nevis Properties also installed six active EV charging stations – almost 30% of spaces at the development – to acknowledge an ever-evolving shift towards green energy and sustainable living. The other spaces are ‘EV-ready’, with ducting installed so charging points can be added in future if required.  

The developer is focused on regenerating brownfield sites to help to address Glasgow’s housing shortage, and by providing attractive accommodation in and around the city centre, Marc Taylor, director at Nevis Properties, believes there will be less need for development on finite Greenbelt land. 

A selection of properties at Minerva Way will be priced at a level to cater for first time buyers, as well as attracting young professionals looking to bring their talent to the city. An Economic Impact Assessment carried out on behalf of Nevis Properties estimates the development could be worth around £2m per year to the city’s economy, and more than £2.6m to the regional construction industry. 

Mr Taylor said: “For Glasgow to continue to evolve as a dynamic, contemporary city, and recover from the pandemic, there is a need to create quality housing in prime locations which enhances the urban fabric of the city and attracts the very best talent.

“Finnieston is incredibly attractive to young professionals and first-time buyers because it’s walkable to the city centre and has some of Glasgow’s best bars and restaurants. As it stands there is a distinct lack of choice for quality new build accommodation and extremely high demand for second-hand properties within the area. 

“As Glasgow becomes ever more popular with larger businesses, there is a growing need to meet the surging demand for premium living accommodation at a price point which fits the needs of buyers and renters. That’s why we want to develop a property which will not only develop a real community, but also become the gold standard for sustainable developments in future.” 

The plans were submitted to Glasgow City Council on October 19.