IN a surprising turn of events, plans to demolish Glasgow’s Buchanan Galleries shopping centre have been abandoned, with developers opting to ‘refocus’ their project for the iconic city centre location.
Landsec, the owner of Buchanan Galleries, had initially proposed to flatten the centre as part of a £825m project to create a “vibrant district in the heart of the city” that would see it replaced by a mixed-use quarter with shops, offices, homes and leisure venues.
However, the property giant has now decided to change tack, moving away from the wholesale demolition approach. Landsec has now said that retaining the original building is part of their “vision”. This will allow the project to be delivered quicker and be “less disruptive and carbon-intensive” than the previous proposal.
Nick Davis, Landsec head of retail development said to STV: “Given the way cities have changed, and retail’s strong post-pandemic recovery, we’re exploring a masterplan that can be delivered in incremental phases and are re-focusing the first phase of our vision in rejuvenating Glasgow’s prime retail destination.
“In conversations with brands, and through engagement with the public, we know that there is both consumer and commercial appetite for this to be delivered and delivered quickly.
“With this in mind, we will shortly be bringing forward the first phase of a renewed vision for the transformation of Buchanan Galleries.
“We believe that over time we can create a new city centre district, anchored by the Galleries that responds to the way people want to live, shop and work.
“To facilitate this multi-phase masterplan approach, we have recently purchased 229-249 Buchanan Street adjacent to the Galleries – reaffirming our commitment to the city.”
The company is working closely with Glasgow City Council to ensure the refocused project aligns with the city’s strategic recovery and climate aspirations.
The coming months are likely to reveal more details about the revised plans for this key piece of Glasgow’s retail landscape.
