driving sustainable growth for the whole country

2023 was a busy year for Peel Waters in Scotland, with our developments playing a defining role in supporting the Scottish Government’s ‘Clyde Mission’, using the river flowing through Scotland’s largest city to drive sustainable growth for the whole country.

Inclusive wellbeing destination

At our Glasgow Waters development, we took significant steps toward building Scotland’s newest wellbeing destination, recently completing legals with Therme Group on a 22-acre wellbeing resort next to the Riverside Museum. The size of 15 football pitches, the resort will include a next-generation indoor water park, extensive thermal pools and a spa. Therme Scotland will be Therme Group’s second wellbeing destination in the UK after Therme Manchester, aiming to make wellbeing more accessible and inclusive.

Glasgow Waters is also providing much needed homes with mixed tenure opportunities. This year, Peel Waters made major progress across a number of different residential developments. At Yorkhill Quay, Glasgow Waters have a recently consented scheme to deliver 1,100 residential units, a 200 bed hotel and a family leisure opportunity. An additional planning consent was received to relocate the existing roundabout and alter the car park, facilitating the next stage of development.

Further along the water, at Meadowside Quay Walk, Dandara are constructing the final phase of their development, with 324 flats due to complete early next year. Peel Waters completed the sale of Beith Street Phase 4 to KR Developments, marking the final phase of the site with work starting next year to deliver over 400 homes. Nearby, at Beith Street West, Nixon Blue received detailed consent for 48 flats, beginning construction next year after buying the Glasgow Waters site from Peel Waters in 2022.

focus on reviving community

Community is central to Glasgow Waters, with the development aiming to complement, support and revive the surrounding area. To build community excitement, the Clydeside Community Garden opened in June, taking a redundant area and transforming it into a temporary pop-up garden. A ‘place for people and pollinators’, the new tranquil garden incorporates original quay stones, bee hotels and artworks by local children, with local gardening clubs engaging to carry out garden maintenance moving forward.

The city’s longest outdoor mural from Scotland-based artist collective Healy Arts debuted this summer. Known as ‘The Great Wall of Glasgow’ and painted on hoarding around the Therme Group site, the ‘Dancing Wave’ art stretches nearly 1,000 metres and was launched in August at a successful community event, Wee Harbour Fest, which united the community for mural painting, live music and activities for children. Peel Waters also began a community newsletter series, engaging with all local councillors, residents’ associations and community groups.

This summer, plans were accepted for a pop-up bar/restaurant to be known as Northbank on the banks of the Clyde, with this Broomielaw site being the first stage in a significant riverside hospitality space.

Destinations for active travel

Carrying on its commitment to creating sustainable and healthy communities, Peel Waters continues to invest in creating destinations for active travel. In Inverclyde, a new coastal path opened in April to support walking and cycling in Greenock. Working with Sustrans, the traffic-free route connects Greenock Harbour with Scotland’s national cycle network, providing spectacular views of the area. At James Watt Dock, a new road and bridge replacement project was finalised opening up the site, which already features a sheltered and safe Marina, for future development. At the Dock, a sale of the far end of Great Harbour known as “The Nib” to Peel Ports was completed in March, enhancing commercial marine activity in the area.

Peel Waters also completed a number of sales, allowing developments to be carried forward. Firstly, Govan Annexe is a 1956 Annexe adjoining the listed Fairfield Heritage Centre at Govan Shipyard. This was sold by Peel Waters to facilitate development of the property for artist studios, exhibition space and offices. In addition, Kingston Industrial Estate and Neil Street, Renfrew, were two non-strategic industrial properties that were sold in November to Dalglen Investments Limited.

Brian Lavalette, Property Director – Scotland at Peel Waters, said:

“The Clyde has always played an important role in the history of Glasgow, and the development of Glasgow Waters marks a new, vibrant chapter for both the river and the city. I’m encouraged by the fantastic progress made throughout 2023, and I’m looking forward to seeing the area come to life in 2024, becoming a major retail, leisure and tourism destination as well as providing thousands of waterfront homes for local people.”