WHEN Selfridges bought land in Merchant City for a new store there was great excitement in Glasgow.

It would have brought a new dimension to an end of town that was neglected as the big retail names clustered around Buchanan Street, book ended by the two big shopping malls.

However, they dithered and delayed and finally pulled out and sold up, and not before time, as it allows the site to be developed by someone who wants to see it in use and generating income and jobs.

The new plans for hotel, retail and accommodation will do that and the planned public space will fit in nicely with the rest of the area, with Merchant Square and the nearby pedestrian precincts of Argyle Street.

The Selfridges saga dragged on for far too long but as soon as the site was sold there was interest and the land won't lie empty for very much longer.

That shows the confidence that big investors and developers have in the city, its workers and its ability to attract visitors from near and far.

The old Goldbergs site has been an unnecessary eyesore for too many years and Selfridges in the end didn't fancy it.

Fair enough. Glasgow simply moves onwards an upwards without them.