Glasgow to build world’s first floating leisure village
Baku, December 25 (AZERTAC). Glasgow is set to become home to the world’s first floating leisure village, in a decision announced by Scottish Enterprise today. In a tightly fought tendering process, Floating Concepts Limited, based near Manchester, has been chosen as the preferred bidder to develop the former Canting Basin docks a mile from Glasgow city-centre on the south side of the River Clyde.
The £30 million pioneering proposals from Floating Concepts, designed by Glasgow-based ZM Architecture and specialist water-based architects Baca Limited of London, 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.
“All great coastal cities have a prime waterfront destination and now Glasgow has the chance to join those ranks,” said David Beard, Chief Executive of Floating Concepts.
“The iconic nature of a floating village will turn the Canting Basin into a major attraction quite unlike any other in the world, as well as being a dynamic centre for local people and businesses.”
Allan McQuade, Business Infrastructure Director, Scottish Enterprise, said: “The floating leisure village proposed by Floating Concepts Limited for the Clyde’s Canting Basin has the potential to become a vibrant waterfront tourism and leisure destination at the heart of Glasgow’s Pacific Quay.
"It is an innovative proposal which makes maximum use of the water and we look forward to working with Floating Concepts over the next few years as the project is implemented.”
“In addition to the anticipated jobs boost it will bring to Glasgow,” continued McQuade, “the development will become a thriving community for local residents and businesses and will directly support the growing creative industry cluster on the Clyde.”
“Scottish Enterprises’ vision for Canting Basin is a break-through in recognising the potential of ‘blue-field’ sites,” said Beard, who is also coowner of Liverpool Marina. “Floating structures can be applied successfully to many areas, including those at risk of flooding or subject to major tidal ranges as we are here on the River Clyde.”
Floating Concepts will now begin holding talks with Glasgow City Council with a view to submitting an outline planning application as soon as possible. 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 roadway, comprising 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 flo ating 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.
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