Controversial plans for 拢390m extension approved by Glasgow City Council
Glasgow City Council has approved controversial plans for a 拢390m extension to the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre.
The extension plans will see the city鈥檚 popular stairway to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall torn down to make way for 392,000ft虏 of retail space and a new car park close to Queen Street Station.
The plans were approved despite an online petition raising 14,000 signatures and the council recieving 300 letters objecting to the plans. Opponents of the scheme had argued that the steps, which were built in the 1990s, had become part of the fabric of the city.
Lend Lease will build the 拢390m scheme for clients Land Securities and Henderson Global Investors. The scheme will include a new entrance atrium for the concert hall and Buchanan Galleries replace the steps and a pedestrian bridge connecting to the new car park. The scheme is expected to create 1,500 jobs.
In a statement Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council said: 鈥淭his planning consent will unlock over 拢300million of private sector investment for Glasgow. Alongside our (Tax Increment Finance) (TIF) scheme, the expansion of Buchanan Galleries will improve the city centre鈥檚 public realm and infrastructure, and generate 1500 jobs.
鈥淲e are justifiably proud in Glasgow city centre being the UK鈥檚 second biggest retail destination, but to ensure we remain in such a position new ways of attracting visitors and investors must be found. The expansion of the Galleries will help us to do so.鈥�
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