Plans for revitalised 'Golden Z' revealed by Glasgow City Council
Planners hope to move away from the retail core, bring empty buildings back into use and introduce more green spaces
Last updated 14th Aug 2023
The vision for a reimagined city centre is being revealed by Glasgow City Council - with a focus on revitalising the so-called ‘Golden Z’ made up of Argyle, Sauchiehall and Buchanan Street.
At a conference in Merchant's House this morning, council bosses presented ambitious plans for 2024 to 2030.
Council leader, Susan Aitken, said she was under "no illusions" about the scale of this challenge, but that the measures outlined would provide a vibrant city that businesses, visitors and residents deserve.
Moving away from retail
The plans will see the 'style mile' move away from its retail core, and introduce more food, drink and entertainment venues.
Planners feel that the changing habits of shoppers post-pandemic mean that although shops do have a role to play, there should be more focus on driving the night-time economy.
Sauchiehall Street, in particular, was identified as a key area for development with hopes of it eventually becoming known as a "creative and cultural" district.
Plans are already underway to redevelop Buchanan Galleries and St Enoch's shopping centres redeveloped into homes and flexible working spaces.
Vacant buildings
Another priority is tackling vacant buildings following several department store closures.
Planners referenced buildings like the former BHS and Watt Brothers stores which they felt were the biggest "blight" to the Golden Z, and recommended they be brought back into use.
These buildings were recommended to become a workspace, student accommodation or a hotel.
They also recommended the relaxation of regulations to allow planning permission for upper-floor conversions to be more easily obtained, which would help more people live in the city.
Greenspace
Introducing more greenspace throughout Glasgow was identified as a priority, with future developments set to include rooftop gardens and temporary greenspace during construction projects.
St Enoch Square was earmarked as the best available opportunity in the city centre to create a high-quality interactive public space catering for families through the incorporation of green space and children's play.
City centre living
The strategic vision for transforming the Golden Z comes in tandem with the council's City Centre Living Strategy, which hopes to double the area's population to 40,000 over the next 15 years.
The move to a work-from-home model for many after the pandemic is being, in part, cited for some of the declines in city centres - and it is hoped by attracting more people to live in Glasgow's city centre, it will make up for the reduced footfall.
Planners want to see more buildings with civic functions within the Golden Z to support this.
There is also a push to ensure the streets making up the Z are better connected, through improved pedestrian routes, better bus connectivity and more public transport evening services.
Active travel and cycle routes played a key part in artists' impressions of what the city centre could look like, as Glasgow City Council remains committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
'Huge changes'
Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: “The 'Golden Z' key thoroughfares of Sauchiehall, Buchanan and Argyle Streets have long been an important part of our city centre and Glasgow’s economy.
"But with huge global and structural changes in the retail and office sectors in recent years, accelerated by the pandemic, these traditional shopping streets have been particularly visibly affected by these economic shifts and require a particular ongoing focus.
“As part of our wider efforts to guide city centre recovery and support investment in Glasgow, the Vision and Delivery Plan for the Golden Z looks in depth at this key part of Glasgow city centre to help ensure it thrives in future as it adapts to face challenges and take the opportunities coming its way.
“The recommendations and actions within the plan for the Golden Z aim to ensure that buildings, sites and spaces in the area are all fully used to contribute to its attractiveness as a place for everyone who uses it to live, work, visit and invest in.
"We look forward to working with everyone with a stake in the Golden Z to deliver these aims to making the area is all it can and should be.”