THE draft strategy for Glasgow city centre for the remainder of the decade was today considered by a Glasgow City Council committee.
Describing the city centre strategy 2024-30 as the ‘plan of plans’ for Glasgow city centre, the local authority explained that it will rest on three pillars – a place to live, front door innovation, and magnetic experience.
A place to live will involve a place-based approach to regeneration which responds to climate issues and respects planetary boundaries. The council explained it is inclusive, balanced, and connected with amenities to support a growing population.
Opportunities to welcome digital, life sciences, climate science, and creative industries into a mix which converges with arts, engineering, and business will come from the front door to innovation pillar, whilst the magnetic experience will aim to see the development of more ‘compelling’ reasons to visit, shop, and enjoy the city centre.
The city centre strategy 2014-19 was the first phase of a ten-year strategy for the city centre. After being halted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the new draft strategy now transitions into its second five-year phase, which has an emphasis on outcome-focused delivery.
Public consultation on the draft city centre strategy in late 2023 showed ‘strong’ support for the proposals, particularly for making more use of the river, supporting the business economy, the repurposing of property to more productive and sustainable uses, and encouraging more people to live in the city centre, the council said.
Councillor Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery at Glasgow City Council and co-chair of the city centre taskforce, said, “The city centre strategy sets out our vision for the future, and will form the basis of partnership working between the public and private sectors as we work towards a more vibrant, greener and mixed-use city centre.
“From the avenues programme to our plans for the Golden Z and projects across the local neighbourhoods of the city centre, the strategy contains a range of actions which will help transform the city centre. Today’s consideration of these plans paves the way towards a decision on its approval and adoption later this month.”
Project Scotland spoke to Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, in September about the council’s plans for the city centre. Click here to read it.
