Glasgow targets having ‘best event campus in Europe’ as £200m plans approved

Keppie Design

PLANS to turn Glasgow’s SEC site into the ‘best event campus in Europe’ have been granted planning permission in principle.

The SEC, which is made up of the SSE Hydro, SEC Armadillo and SEC Centre, is a key economic driver for Glasgow – with it attracting two million event goers per year to the city, in normal times.

The plans, submitted by Keppie Design on behalf of Scottish Events Campus Limited (SECL), come following a research project which highlighted the need to enhance the existing venue facilities in order for it to remain ‘relevant’ to the market and excel in the meetings industry.

Glasgow City Council has now given permission in principle for the £150 – 200 million blueprint, which includes the build of a 200-bed hotel adjacent to the existing Crowne Plaza Hotel; the creation of an elevated plaza, integrated with a riverside cafe; expansions to the west side of the campus which will allow for increased venue space; a new foyer accommodating up to 1,000 visitors; and a walkway refurbishment to link the venue.

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Keppie Design wrote in the plans, “The proposal is to create a sustainable competitive advantage for the SEC through enhancing the venue to offer a world-class, purpose-built, multi conference complex, with modern, flexible, compact, state-of-the-art facilities that differentiate the SEC from its competitors.

“The aim is to put the SEC in the strongest competitive position to attract high yield national and international conference business to fulfil Glasgow’s and Scotland’s potential in the market, and enjoy the economic benefits of hosting such conferences.

“Investment in the SEC product is essential in order to compete with the increased competition from new and refurbished venues.

“Enhancing the meeting facilities at the SEC would not only improve the ability to compete in the UK and international associations meeting markets more effectively, carefully designed additional space could provide the potential to stage two, or possibly more conferences/events at any one time.”