Description:
The world's first floating leisure village is planned at the
Canting Basin, close to the Glasgow Science Centre at Pacific
Quay.
The £30 million project will be developed by Manchester based
Floating Concepts and is designed by Glasgow-based ZM Architecture
and specialist water-based architects Baca Limited of London. The
development could create up to 450 local jobs and transform the
Canting Basin into a spectacular floating community comprising
shops, offices, houses, restaurants, a marina and a roof-top
concert arena.
The Canting Basin covers 5 hectares of water which borders the
Science Centre and IMAX cinema at Glasgow's Pacific Quay.
Floating Concepts plans include using cutting-edge design and the
latest sustainable technology to create a new canal with a U-shaped
floating street. The floating buildings would include a flexible
mix of two and three storey glazed office buildings, studio flats
and town houses with their own private moorings.
Moored in front of 'The Hub' digital media centre are proposals
for an eclectic mix of individual floating office and live/work
units, ranging from 1000 to 3500 sq.ft, by leading designers of
floating structures in Holland and Scandinavia, which will be
offered on an 'off-the-peg' basis, in addition to a bespoke design
and build service where required.
The plans for a green, car-free environment, which could have its
recycled refuse collected by barge, will accommodate shops, a
hotel, restaurants and an 80 berth marina with a unique yacht club
concept which would be open to the public. In order to encourage
the use of the river for recreation and transport there are plans
for a further 150 berths for the residents and occupiers of the
development and for visitors by boat.
The marina will be attractive as a winter berth for yacht owners
on the South Coast wishing to explore the more challenging sailing
off the rugged coastal waters of Western Scotland.
To encourage the use of the river for transport and recreational
use, the offices and residential units will be marketed with a
range of 'pool' boats which residents will be able to book on
line.
Following Scottish Enterprise's lengthy and closely fought
tender process, Floating Concepts has emerged as the preferred
developer at the Canting Basin. A detailed planning
application will be submitted as soon as possible.