St Enoch revamp plans released
Glasgow City Council’s ambitious plans to transform the banks of the River Clyde are set to be released this week.
A £900,000 public consultation on the future of the St Enoch district is expected to launch this Friday and run for eight weeks. The development will start at the junction between Saltmarket and Clyde Street near Glasgow Green and will also include the cross-roads between Argyle Street and Buchanan Street in the city centre.
The council’s five-year strategy went live in April 2014 with 55 ambitious plans announced for nine city centre districts. Work in Sauchiehall and Garnethill is already underway while public consultation on the second district – Broomielaw is complete and a report expected to be presented to the city administration committee on Thursday.
The St Enoch District is the third of nine regeneration plans for the city centre to be brought forward following discussions with the local community and stakeholders.
Construction work on a nine-screen cinema complex with nine new restaurants which is part of a £40 million leisure development is ongoing at St Enoch Shopping Centre and will add 30,000 sq ft to the building. The development at the shopping centre is expected to attract an additional two million people per year.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Susan Aitken said in a report: “The St Enoch district is a dynamic city quarter with a diverse and distinctive amenity and community.”
She also pointed out in the report: “The riverside location is also a clearly under-utilised asset that must be redefined and reconfigured to attract footfall and investment.”
A new consultation period will offer further opportunities for residents to have their say on the proposals. New development in the area will be required to respect Glasgow’s historic built heritage and incorporate the characteristics of important buildings.
Steps will also be taken to address the shortage of quality green and public spaces.
Part of the regeneration plans include enhancing the city centre’s transport links to make public spaces along the river more accessible.
The final four city centre regeneration frameworks – Cowcaddens, Merchant City, Townhead and the Learning Quarter are expected to be commissioned late 2019 early 2020