GLASGOW City Council is seeking a contractor to lead what it says will be the ‘biggest overhaul’ of the east side of Argyle Street since the 1970s.
Preparations are underway to transform the thoroughfare, from Glasgow Cross to Central Station, with it coming as part of the city-wide £120 million avenues programme.
The Argyle Street east avenue will make the stretch from Glasgow Cross to Central Station more attractive to residents, visitors and investors and include widening pavements, new green areas, and better public spaces, the local authority explained.
The plans include creating a new bus route to improve public transport and link in with the ongoing work at the western end of Argyle Street and when completed will help transform the look and feel of the street from the M8 to the Gallowgate, the council added.
Further to this, it will also create the conditions to take forward work to create more pedestrian-priority spaces and reduce traffic around Queen Street, Ingram Street, and Candleriggs. Engagement with the local community and stakeholders around these streets will be undertaken in the coming weeks with a view to beginning to implement changes later this year.
Glasgow City Council has this week begun gauging interest from contractors wishing to bid for what it said will be the ‘biggest overhaul’ of the area since the 1970s. Work is scheduled to begin in 2026. A prior information notice has been published for the project, which can be accessed here.
Councillor Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery and transport at Glasgow City Council, said, “The Argyle Street East Avenue is about readying these famous streets for the century ahead. Recent decades have been tough for this part of town but we’re seeing new turnaround developments on Trongate, major new retail offerings on Argyle Street and global employers investing in new headquarters just further west. That’s real confidence in our city centre.
“The Argyle street east avenue is about creating the conditions for more of that. But also, giving Glaswegians a greener, more attractive city centre with an international look and feel they can be proud of.”
Greig MacKay, director for Scotland at Bus Users UK – a charity dedicated to promoting accessible public transport, added, “A new west-to-east bus route in the city centre will help reduce journey times and increase service reliability which is good news for those who rely on public transport, and for the wider environment. Interventions which make journeying by bus a more viable and appealing option can attract new bus passengers and encourage existing users to travel more frequently.”
