The designs will provide eight two-bedroom and four one-bedroom homes for social rent off Clarkston Road.

The layouts have been prepared by Assist Design Architects to meet the Glasgow Standard in order to secure grant support from Glasgow City Council. The four-storey development will replace a row of run-down garages and complement both the traditional tenements and recent new build flats nearby.

The designs seek to minimise energy costs through a ‘fabric first’ approach to reducing the heat requirement with substantial levels of insulation. Heat and hot water demand will be met through ground source heat pumps. Mechanically ventilated heat recovery will ensure good indoor air quality at low cost. Photovoltaic solar panels will provide electricity to power the heat pumps and ventilation. The proposals will exceed Glasgow City Council’s ‘Gold Hybrid’ standard for sustainability.

A specific feature of the development is the south facing sunspace balconies, which can be closed in winter to provide a buffer space between the cold outside air and the living rooms. In spring and autumn, the spaces can be used on warmer days, and the windows opened in the summer where the spaces will act as a generous balcony area. The sunspaces will provide the residents with instant access to a private outside amenity space all year round.

In addition, drying spaces are provided off the sunspaces to conveniently allow clothes to be dried naturally without costly tumble dryers or taking the washing to an outside drying green.

Chairperson Alastair Penney said: “We are delighted to be taking forward this new development. There is a shortage of housing for social rent in the Cathcart area, and this project will help us to meet some of the pent-up demand.

“I am particularly pleased that these new homes will provide high quality warm healthy homes which will be low cost to run for tenants.”

Subject to planning and funding approvals, the Association hopes the project will commence on site in November.