THE step forward in the extension of Buchanan Galleries is welcome news for a city whose economy does so well out of shopping.

The High Streets are enduring a difficult time just now with many big names disappearing as the impact of trading conditions and online competition has an impact on certain sectors.

However the fact that a major developer is willing to pursue this expansion and several big name stores are backing it by moving in to the nearly complete block nearby show there is still investor confidence in Glasgow's city centre retail sector.

The investment is good news but as always displacement must be guarded against as there is little value in moving stores into one end of the city centre at the expense of another.

Action to improve the Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street areas must also be taken to ensure we do not see shop units becoming empty than cannot be filled again.

With Buchanan Galleries at one end and St Enoch Centre at the other Buchanan Street is cemented as the premier retail street outside London.

We must ensure that there is a plan to allow other areas of the city centre to flourish to ensure Glasgow remains the diverse and vibrant city centre that attracts visitors for near and far alike.