Glasgow’s £140m-plus city centre transformation will take a major step forward next month when work begins on the Argyle Street East Avenue, a one‑kilometre corridor running from Central Station to beyond Glasgow Cross. The project forms part of the flagship Avenues programme, billed as the most significant overhaul of the city centre’s streets in decades and designed to make the area more attractive for businesses, investors and visitors.
The Argyle Street East scheme will widen and upgrade pavements, introduce new public and green spaces, and resurface roads and cycle lanes along the full length of the route. A new west‑to‑east bus route will be created through the current pedestrian precinct to cut journey times and improve connectivity, a move expected to support city centre retailers, hospitality operators and offices by making it easier for staff and customers to travel across the core.
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Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery, said the investment is about “revitalising these famous streets, complementing the hundreds of millions of pounds of development which is emerging in the area and giving real confidence to this part of the city.” He added: “The Avenues programme is creating more attractive places for everyone who lives, works and visits the city centre. We’re making sure Argyle Street, Trongate and Glasgow Cross are absolutely part of that.”
The works will be delivered in phases to limit disruption, with sections of the route tackled in sequence rather than all at once. While Councillor Millar acknowledged that “as with all major infrastructure projects, some disruption is inevitable”, he stressed that businesses and residents will be kept informed as the programme progresses and that the long‑term benefits will outweigh the short‑term inconvenience. “Glaswegians can be confident however that the Avenues and George Square redevelopment will deliver a city centre we can all be proud of,” he said.
Business groups have backed the broader programme as a key part of Glasgow’s post‑pandemic recovery, arguing that higher‑quality streets and better public realm are now critical for attracting footfall and investment back into traditional shopping and office locations. The Argyle Street East Avenue, together with completed and upcoming work on George Square, Argyle West and Cowcaddens Road, is expected to strengthen confidence in the city centre as a place to trade, work and invest over the rest of the decade.
