How COVID-19 is transforming our approach to residential architecture

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating an increased level of uncertainty in the private development sector – resulting in significantly fewer mortgage applications for mainstream private housing. This trend is set to continue and will result in greater opportunities for the rental market as we strive to create future communities and meet the demands of a more mobile workforce. For this reason, our next chapter in residential design will be focusing on Mid-Market Rental (MMR), Private Rented Sector (PRS) and Build To Rent (BTR) solutions. 

We are currently preparing a range of design solutions for over 2,000 residential units which reflect these changing market conditions – demonstrating the flexibility and adaptability of our approach. Planning Policy and build costs are real and live challenges, but we are successfully achieving high-value, flexible planning consents for our clients – enabling future affordable development and investment.

Key Workers have proven to be worth their weight in gold throughout COVID-19 and should, therefore, be rewarded with a choice of versatile and flexible accommodation options in our towns and cities. Co-living with professionals, retirees and student tenants is a solution that will be more appealing and relevant for Essential Workers post-COVID – if, in fact, we reach that next stage.

We are designing several residential projects along Glasgow’s waterfront corridor that offer these choices for a range of tenants and occupiers. These projects will all incorporate the necessary supporting amenities such as essential green spaces for break-out and exercise, which have proved invaluable to those looking to stay fit and healthy during lockdown. 

These new communities will help to regenerate and transform urban living along the Clyde into a more balanced and pleasant environment for all occupants, which will seriously enhance the City in which we are extremely proud to be designers.

With the decrease in demand for retail establishments in town and city centres and the high st, there will also be opportunities for these spaces to be repurposed for leisure and residential property. We have several new commissions that seek to reinvigorate underused urban space for residential use, including a project soon to get underway in Edinburgh and a major regeneration proposal in Berkshire.

To learn more about the newly proposed architectural initiatives, designed to significantly increase Glasgow’s city centre population, head to glasgow.gov.uk.