City Plan - Part 2 - Development Policies - Section 7 - Urban Design

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Adopted City Plan : 01 August 2003

City Plan - Part 2 - Development Policies - Section 7 - Urban Design

DES 3 Building Design and Materials

CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION

Glasgow is renowned for its architectural heritage, particularly its Victorian and Edwardian commercial buildings, sandstone tenements, terraces and villas and other vernacular styles. These are characteristic of Glasgow and contribute to its identity and unique sense of place. On occasions, modern buildings have inappropriately tried to replicate traditional tenemental styles and forms in facing brick. House builders have also imported standard suburban house styles which bear little relation to Glasgow traditions. New building should be based in the present and the Council encourages high quality contemporary architecture. The design, however, should also seek to complement or, where appropriate, re-interpret traditional building forms and styles and respect appropriate building materials, colour, and ornamentation traditions. Designs should always contribute to strengthening the City’s identity and image.

POLICY

1. The Council encourages the highest possible quality of architecture and design. The design of new development should be site specific and take account of its context as outlined in policies DES 1: Reinforcing Local Character and Identity and DES 2: Urban Design. The aim should be for a contemporary design that complements or re-interprets traditional Glasgow building forms and styles and respects building material, colour and ornamental traditions.

2. In terms of building design and use of materials, new development should:

(a) be specifically designed for the site in question. Standard off-the-peg designs and unsuitable ‘pastiche’ versions of historical styles alien to Glasgow will be resisted. In exceptional cases of high conservation value traditional restoration or replication may be appropriate;

(b) respect Glasgow’s tradition of architectural modelling and ornamentation and explore contemporary interpretations. Incorporation of art and craft work as an integral part of the design is strongly encouraged (see policy DES 6: Public Art);

(c) use high quality facing and roofing materials that complement the architectural character and townscape quality of the surrounding area (see Note). Recommended finishing materials are set out in the table below. Materials should be capable of retaining their appearance over time and should have regard to the proposed maintenance regime;

(d) have a clearly defined edge or boundary of a design appropriate to the location;

(e) consider the sensitive use of colour and the contribution it can make to the ‘sense of place’ of the City or neighbourhood;

(f) pay regard to the effects of local climate on the appearance and durability of building materials and pay particular attention to the design of copes, sills, etc. especially where a rendered finish is specified. There will be a general presumption in favour of pitched roofs in residential developments; and

(g) make provision for people with disabilities or mobility problems through appropriate barrier free access designs. (see policy DES 9: Barrier Free Access)

3. The design of infill or gap site development in traditional tenemental areas should:

(a) respect the character of the surrounding area and adjacent buildings in terms of building line, scale/massing, modelling, elevational proportion and materials. The aim should be for a contemporary design that complements its context rather than attempting to replicate it. In exceptional cases of high conservation value traditional restoration or replication may be appropriate; and

(b) residential developments should, in addition, meet the design criteria set out in policy RES 2: Residential Site Layouts.

4. The Table below offers guidance on appropriate materials for walls, roofs and boundaries. Materials not listed will be considered on their merits. For developments in conservation areas or affecting listed buildings see also policy HER 3: Design Standards for Listed Buildings and Properties in Conservation Areas.

Feature

Material

Application

Walls

Sandstone

Most conservation areas, the City Centre, and the preferred material for main elevations in areas where sandstone is the predominant finishing material. May also be successfully used for plinths, corner features, door and window surrounds, quoins, string courses etc. in combination with other materials such as facing brick.

Granite, Marble and other stone

Appropriate facing material for commercial developments depending on location.

Reconstituted Sandstone

May be substituted for natural stone in less sensitive areas and where the durability of the material is proven. The scale/unit size of the blocks should be carefully considered to give the appearance of natural stone and the thickness of mortar bonding should be minimised. The most appropriate application is of reconstituted sandstone for limited areas of walls and for plinths, corner features, door and window surrounds, quoins, string courses etc. in combination with other materials such as facing brick, roughcast and render. Samples of any man-made materials shall require to be approved, in writing, by the Council prior to their use.

Facing Brick

Clay ‘through and through’ facing brick (not more than 12% water absorption, FL (frost-resistant low-salt) quality). Although not a traditional material, colours can be chosen to complement Glasgow’s red and buff sandstone buildings. Consideration could be given to the use of sandstone/reconstituted stone dressings or combination with render/roughcast. Normal application will be for residential or industrial buildings outwith the City Centre, conservation areas, and areas where sandstone is not the predominant finishing material.

Render/Roughcast

If properly applied, modern self coloured smooth cement render finishes can be an attractive alternative to facing brick in residential developments. Roughcast, if used, should preferably be self coloured wet-dash harling and may be combined with other materials. Use of render/roughcast should not normally be the dominant finishing material in a large scale development and should be avoided along main roads where it may discolour due to vehicle exhaust emissions. Use of roughcast or render on main elevations will normally be prohibited in areas where sandstone is the dominant finishing material.

Feature

Materials

Application

Walls

Metal Cladding

Glass

Stainless Steel

Appropriate facing material for business and commercial developments dependent on quality and location.

Roofs

Natural Slate

The preferred material for conservation areas and other areas where slate is the dominant roofing material.

Artificial Slate

May be an acceptable substitute for natural slate dependent on quality and location.

Roof Tiles :

Clay/Concrete

Grey or red ‘through and through’ clay and concrete roof tiles are acceptable for most residential developments outwith traditional sandstone areas. Style should match the predominating existing roof finishes. See policies RES 20: Modern Fittings to Buildings and HER 3: Design Standards for Listed Buildings and Properties in Conservation Areas.

Metal

Lead or copper will normally be acceptable. On residential buildings use of metal should be kept to a minimum and restricted to special features. Corrugated metal sheeting will only be acceptable for industrial/storage buildings, dependent on quality and location.

Boundaries

Boundaries along road frontages should be of a high quality and normally take the form of a wall or low wall and railings. Materials should match those of the main development. Timber fencing may be used for boundaries to rear garden areas. Trip rails, post and wire fencing, or similar are not considered appropriate boundary treatments along main roads in the urban area.

Notes:

1. The existing character of areas subject to regeneration and development may change (e.g. Areas of Focus). Developers should consult the Planning Authority for advice and refer to any additional design guidance for these, or other areas.

2. The Council’s Urban Design Strategy provides the background and justification for the design policies and is summarised in the City Plan Technical Note: Built Environment.

last updated: 21 May 2005

Feature	Material	Application
Walls	Sandstone	Most conservation areas, the City Centre, and the preferred material for main elevations in areas where sandstone is the predominant finishing material. May also be successfully used for plinths, corner features, door and window surrounds, quoins, string courses etc. in combination with other materials such as facing brick.
	Granite, Marble and other stone	Appropriate facing material for commercial developments depending on location.
	Reconstituted Sandstone	May be substituted for natural stone in less sensitive areas and where the durability of the material is proven. The scale/unit size of the blocks should be carefully considered to give the appearance of natural stone and the thickness of mortar bonding should be minimised. The most appropriate application is of reconstituted sandstone for limited areas of walls and for plinths, corner features, door and window surrounds, quoins, string courses etc. in combination with other materials such as facing brick, roughcast and render. Samples of any man-made materials shall require to be approved, in writing, by the Council prior to their use.
	Facing Brick	Clay ‘through and through’ facing brick (not more than 12% water absorption, FL (frost-resistant low-salt) quality). Although not a traditional material, colours can be chosen to complement Glasgow’s red and buff sandstone buildings. Consideration could be given to the use of sandstone/reconstituted stone dressings or combination with render/roughcast. Normal application will be for residential or industrial buildings outwith the City Centre, conservation areas, and areas where sandstone is not the predominant finishing material.
	Render/Roughcast	If properly applied, modern self coloured smooth cement render finishes can be an attractive alternative to facing brick in residential developments. Roughcast, if used, should preferably be self coloured wet-dash harling and may be combined with other materials. Use of render/roughcast should not normally be the dominant finishing material in a large scale development and should be avoided along main roads where it may discolour due to vehicle exhaust emissions. Use of roughcast or render on main elevations will normally be prohibited in areas where sandstone is the dominant finishing material.

Feature	Materials	Application
Walls	Metal Cladding Glass Stainless Steel	Appropriate facing material for business and commercial developments dependent on quality and location.
Roofs	Natural Slate	The preferred material for conservation areas and other areas where slate is the dominant roofing material.
	Artificial Slate	May be an acceptable substitute for natural slate dependent on quality and location.
	Roof Tiles : Clay/Concrete	Grey or red ‘through and through’ clay and concrete roof tiles are acceptable for most residential developments outwith traditional sandstone areas. Style should match the predominating existing roof finishes. See policies RES 20: Modern Fittings to Buildings and HER 3: Design Standards for Listed Buildings and Properties in Conservation Areas.
	Metal	Lead or copper will normally be acceptable. On residential buildings use of metal should be kept to a minimum and restricted to special features. Corrugated metal sheeting will only be acceptable for industrial/storage buildings, dependent on quality and location.
Boundaries		Boundaries along road frontages should be of a high quality and normally take the form of a wall or low wall and railings. Materials should match those of the main development. Timber fencing may be used for boundaries to rear garden areas. Trip rails, post and wire fencing, or similar are not considered appropriate boundary treatments along main roads in the urban area.