LISTEN: New look planned for Glasgow’s city centre

It looks like Glasgow’s getting a makeover.

Published 29th Aug 2016

It looks like Glasgow’s getting a makeover.

That’s if councillors approve plans for a multi-million pound spending plan to revive the Broomielaw, St Enoch, Blythswood and Central areas of the city.

So how would it look – well the addition of more cafés and restaurants along the banks of the Rover Clyde are just some of the ideas being looked at, as well as cycle paths and better housing.

It’s all part of the council’s regeneration masterplan which is expected to cost around £115 million.

Architect Graham Ross has been speaking to Clyde News:

The plans – for the 10-year regeneration strategy – were launched by Council Leader Frank McAveety this morning, with key stakeholders now being asked to add their input into the design.

He added: “The future of Glasgow city centre is of huge important to so many of us as this area is without doubt the economic powerhouse of Scotland. This next stage of the regeneration framework for the city centre will look at four districts that play a significant role in our economic and cultural life, to identify and support and then develop the assets they have in new and innovative ways to ensure Glasgow continues to grow. There will be an investment of £115million in the city centre from the Glasgow City Region City Deal, and our engagement with the stakeholders of these areas will help decide how this investment is delivered. At the end of this process, we can look forward to a city centre that has changed for the better to become an even more attractive place in which to live, work, study, invest and visit.”

Winy Mass, founding partner and director at MVRDV, said: “It is both an incredible pleasure and a great responsibility to work on the transformation of Glasgow's heart because it touches people's lives and the identity of their city. For this reason we collaborate with the Glaswegians on their city. The project is titled (Y)OUR CITY CENTRE and it is an overall plan made of many elements ranging from larger scale interventions concerning liveability, the infrastructure, the meaning of the river; to the small scale in which bottom-up initiatives, street furniture and the development of small plots is considered. The outcome will be presented to the citizens for an open dialogue about the future of Glasgow." Graham Ross, office principal of Austin-Smith:Lord’s Glasgow studio, said: “We’re delighted to launch the next step in the preparation of the Regeneration Frameworks for Broomielaw, St. Enoch, Central and Blythswood. We’re starting a conversation with Glaswegians about their city centre; looking to work collaboratively and creatively to imagine how these Districts can be in the future. We’re keen to discuss (Y)OUR CITY CENTRE ideas. These can be shared at forthcoming on-street events and interactive workshops in the Districts, on a dedicated website, online questionnaire and via social media.” The first stage of the phase of the project began last year with the focus on the Sauchiehall and Garnethill areas. A dedicated website for this next stage of the city centre strategy has been established at www.yourcitycentre.com.