Public consultation on the transformation of Buchanan Galleries

The owner of our centre, Landsec, will be launching a consultation on the exciting plans for the future of our centre. The proposals are a response to the disruption facing retail, which has been accelerated by the pandemic, and designed to support the City of Glasgow’s net zero ambitions to build on the success of COP26.

David Heaford, Managing Director - Development at Landsec said: “Cities around the world are learning to adapt to the public’s changing habits – and we want to help Glasgow to be well-positioned to do the same.  Our vision is to replace the existing shopping centre with an exciting new mixed-use urban neighbourhood in the heart of Glasgow city centre, blending world-class shopping with places to work, live and play.  Our plans will seek to extend the city’s iconic and accessible grid layout, support the city’s net zero ambitions and be informed by the needs and views of local people, visitors and businesses.  We will be launching a wide-ranging consultation, kicking off in the spring, to help create a place that makes a lasting positive contribution to the city and all those who live, work and visit here.”

Landsec, a leading development company, is working with Glasgow City Council on options to transform the area and support their strategic covid recovery and climate aspirations. 

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Glasgow, like town and city centres everywhere, is facing significant and accelerating structural changes. These initial proposals detail a response to those changes, ensuring Glasgow has a vibrant, successful and evolving city centre which continues to be the envy of our peers.

“Approval for the commencement of negotiations with Landsec would allow us to push ahead with addressing oncoming challenges and opportunities in this rapidly changing world. A 21^st century city centre delivering on Glasgow’s international standing and ambitions means more mixed-use developments, a greater residential population, more public spaces, sustainable transport options and more people-focused streets. The transformation of the Buchanan Galleries can be a vote of confidence on Glasgow’s future.”

The delivery of a new mixed use urban neighbourhood has the potential to generate significant jobs and economic benefits.  Over 850 construction jobs could be created each year during the build phase leading to over 9,500 permanent jobs for the city centre.  On completion this will could result in over £1bn of Gross Value Added to the economy each year, demonstrating a significant benefit to Glasgow and Scotland.

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said: “Landsec’s aspirations for Glasgow and their proven track record in delivering high-quality mixed-use developments would be transformational at this incredibly challenging time. As a valued long-term investor in the city, we look forward to them bringing forward innovative plans that could position Glasgow in the vanguard of covid recovery.  The scale of ambition of this private sector investment should be welcomed with open arms.”

Local people and city stakeholders will be invited to register their interest via the Commonplace consultation platform https://buchanangalleries.commonplace.is. A wide-ranging consultation will commence in spring 2022.