BUSINESS leaders have said “radical” change is needed with what one of Glasgow’s most famous streets offers as traditional high street shopping slips further in to the history books.

Bringing an emphasis to arts, entertainment and culture to offer a more unique high street experience on Sauchiehall Street are the routes to follow, according to the Sauchiehall Street tenants.

The reaction comes as Greaves Sports announced on Tuesday it was closing its Sauchiehall Street branch, while retaining their Gordon Street store.

Along with the recent closure of the street’s BHS store just across the road, the city’s iconic sporting goods retailer has become another addition to the increasing number of spaces where the shutters will be permanently rolled down.

However, to bring the hustle and bustle back to the famous thoroughfare, businesses on the street should steer away from competing with large retail centres, according to a street development group.

Brian Fulton, the chairman of the Sauchiehall BID, a group who aim to improve the street’s business prospects, said: “The street offers so much when it comes to entertainment, food and drink and nightlife - that’s our strength.”

Mr Fulton, who is one of the directors at The Garage nightclub, said the street needs to build on attracting people through the amount of entertainment on offer on the street.

And the 47-year-old thinks the start of a regeneration project will help improve the street’s chances to bring in more business.

He said: “The BID team have been working for a couple of years towards improving the street for the businesses and the council’s plans to regenerate the area are very welcome.

“The work is planned to start in June this year and with see the pavement’s widened which will offer up more choices for businesses.

“The success the pubs, clubs and restaurants could have with this regeneration work may have a positive knock-on effect as the more footfall the street attracts the more confident stores may be to open up.”

Francis McKee, the director of the Centre for Contemporary Arts on Sauchiehall Street, said: “Whatever is done to improve the street it needs to be radical.

“High streets are changing and it’s no use for this street to compete with the likes of Buchanan Galleries.

“A more unique experience is required and this could be done by encouraging independent businesses to open in the area with incentives on business rates or interspersing art exhibitions within shop spaces.”

Another solution would be to increase the number of residential flats on the street.

Richard Bellingham, director of Strathclyde University’s Future Cities, said: “As well as making the consumers’ experience different to anywhere else, bringing more people to live in the area would help change the street’s fortunes.

“Compared to other cities in the UK, Glasgow has a very low percentage of the population actually living in the city centre.

“Having more people live in the area would bring more of a community aspect to the street - which would perhaps encourage more shops to open.”

Frank McAveety, the leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Sauchiehall Street is not only one of Glasgow’s most iconic locations, but a key economic, social and cultural centre, home to many businesses, residents and institutions.

“There is no doubt about its contribution to the day and night-time economies of Glasgow.

“The area has fantastic strengths which we will develop with the help of local people and organisations to deliver exciting projects that will ensure that it uses its assets to maintain its prominent place in the city’s life.”