Hope for Glasgow's Golden Z as city council approves recovery plan
The long-term strategy for Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street, will ensure the area becomes more resilient, diverse and green
Last updated 31st Aug 2023
Glasgow's Golden Z is a step closer to transformation after a vision and delivery plan for the area was approved at a city council meeting today.
The long-term strategy for Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street, will ensure the area becomes more resilient, diverse and green.
City centre living
Consideration has been given to the main issues currently affecting the area - such as a growing city centre population, the impact of changing retail and leisure trends, lingering post-pandemic behaviour changes in how we shop, work and live, and the pressing need to repurpose vacant sites and buildings.
READ MORE: A new vision for Glasgow's Golden Z.
The document explores opportunities to create new homes of various tenures and formats, (including affordable, family, student and later living homes) within new and repurposed buildings and upper floors.
Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: "The actions within the plan for the ‘Golden Z’ will support our efforts to encourage a more diverse mix of uses in the city centre, including new residential accommodation, as well as finding positive solutions for key sites and supporting the repurposing of vacant property."
A place with more to offer
It also details a proposed shift away from a shopping-focussed hub with a view to re-visiting and making more of the strong cultural offerings in and around the Golden Z.
The plans explore how cultural attractions and institutions can be better integrated to the Sauchiehall Street cluster and importance of ensuring a vibrant and safe city centre providing culture, music, bars and restaurants.
It will ensure the area - traditionally Glasgow’s retail core and a key part of the city’s economy - is more resilient, diverse and green in the future. It identifies areas for intervention and investment, by the public and private sectors, that will support recovery and long-term resilience.
The redevelopment of three ‘areas of focus’ - the former ABC / Jumpin' Jacks site adjoining the Glasgow School of Art, the area on Sauchiehall Street around the former BHS, Watt Bros, and former Victoria’s nightclub gap site, and the around around the vacant TJ Hughes site near the Trongate - has been identified as key to the success of both the local areas and the wider Golden Z.
READ MORE: Plans for revitalised 'Golden Z' revealed by Glasgow City Council.
Councillor Miller continued: “Sauchiehall, Argyle and Buchanan Streets have long been at the heart of the city centre experience, but these key thoroughfares have been increasingly impacted by the major structural economic changes that are affecting city centres everywhere.
"Having a particular focus on this historic shopping area will help ensure it adapts to the changing retail sector and takes the opportunities coming its way.
"The continued rollout of the Avenues programme and a new city centre greening strategy will help improve the area’s look and feel, while we also want to capitalise on its fantastic cultural and creative assets as part of the regeneration of Sauchiehall Street.
Sustainability
Today's approved plans also highlight how the Golden Z can progress the city’s response to the climate emergency; in progressing carbon neutrality, increasing density, property repurposing, greening the grey and in ensuring the city core is accessible, safe and welcoming for all.
READ MORE: People in Glasgow asked for their say on future of the city's busiest streets.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Stuart Patrick, said: “This report is full of data and insights about the former Golden Z and it makes an extensive contribution to the emerging plan for tackling the challenges faced by the City Centre post-pandemic.
"We now have a full suite of recommendations for empty buildings, improving the city centre transport system and doubling residential accommodation in the city centre.
"We especially welcome the recommendation for a powerful cultural district based on and around Sauchiehall Street and the continuing importance of retail to both Buchanan Street and Argyle Street.
"Now our focus turns to the next steps in delivering the vision the report sets out.”