New images show plans for Glasgow’s Buchanan Galleries

NEW illustrative images have been released on how the existing Buchanan Galleries shopping centre in Glasgow could be replaced.

It comes as owners, Landsec, launch the second stage of a consultation on the future of one of the city’s most prominent shopping centres.

The new images show that the existing building would be replaced with more green and public spaces, street level shops and restaurants, as well as better connectivity across the city.

Landsec said that its vision is to replace Buchanan Galleries with an ‘exciting’ new net zero mixed-use urban district which would blend ‘world class’ shopping with places to work, live, and play.

It added that, through opening up the current site into a number of flexible buildings and streets, the vision would create new spaces to shop and socialise at street level – whilst ‘bringing additional life and activity’ to the city centre.

Furthermore, the firm said that it would also help improve connections with public transport, support active travel, and help people move across the city more easily. Flexible workplaces and a variety of office sizes with a ‘diverse mix of tenants’ would also be possible.

The phase one masterplan will also consider a series of ‘significant’ new ‘public realm’ spaces as part of Landsec’s vision to create a ‘cleaner and greener’ city centre environment and a safe space to walk, wheel, and dwell.

A larger, open, and fully accessible public space is being considered to support people in coming together for a range of activities, and to the rear of Queen Street Station an ‘attractive’ terrace or pavilion would enable cultural and community events to take place.

The firm said no decisions have been taken on the Concert Hall steps at Buchanan Galleries, however the proposals outline the potential options for reconfiguration to deliver a more accessible entrance which would continue to serve as an outdoor gathering place for public activities and events.

Nick Davis, senior development director at Landsec, said, “We had a positive response to stage one of our public consultation and are looking forward to hearing more views and opinions throughout September. These illustrative images aim to bring-to-life some of our emerging ideas for the masterplan which reflects the feedback we have received to date from the public. We want more local voices to help shape our masterplan for this exciting project to create a more accessible, green, safe and vibrant city centre which works for everyone, and we would encourage as many people as possible to have their say.”