Savoy's £80m new look

THIS is the first glimpse of the dramatic £80million transformation planned for Glasgow's Savoy Centre.

First pictures are revealed of plans to transform city mall

THIS is the first glimpse of the dramatic £80million transformation planned for Glasgow's Savoy Centre.

The two-storey mall will become a 30-storey landmark which will include office space and a 221-bedroom hotel.

And the top floor will be turned over to the highest restaurants in the city offering breathtaking views.

Around 6000sq m of office space will be created.

As part of the scheme, the ugly walkway taking pedestrians from the shopping centre over Renfrew Street to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama will be demolished.

It is expected Belfast-based developer PNB Properties will submit plans for the ambitious project to Glasgow City Council in the next few weeks.

Damien Mitchell, PNB property director, said: "The Savoy has been part of the city centre landscape for more than 30 years. We believe the time has come to revive, modernise and expand the centre's offering.

"Our proposals will provide an array of new amenities, including a hotel, restaurants and office space, as well as creating a new landmark building for Glasgow city centre and improving business opportunities for existing tenants.

"The Savoy will offer a new class of restaurants to Glasgow, boasting panoramic views of the city from the 30th floor."

Mr Mitchell said the new scheme has been devised to allow all the existing traders who want to remain in the centre to do so.

He added: "The proposals allow for the potential retention of all existing tenants and include the refurbishment and upgrade of the existing ground floor and first floor In-Shop retail units, in addition to plans to vastly improve access and linkages between Sauchiehall Street and Renfrew Street.

"We recently held an open exhibition of our plans to give all of the Savoy's existing tenants an opportunity to view and understand our proposals.

"We have received an enthusiastic reaction from many of the traders, in particular those who will directly benefit from our proposals to upgrade the ground floor retail units."

It is expected up to 200 jobs will be created during construction, with more than 900 jobs created on completion in the scheme, including 200 in the hotel, 650 in the office units and a further 90 in the restaurants.

Mr Mitchell added: "One of the things that was most welcomed in our discussions with a range of local stakeholders is the removal of the unsightly footbridge at Renfrew Street.

"This will bring much improved views along this street and will lift the general amenity of the area."

Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, also welcomed the massive investment.

He said: "We have been meeting with PBN for a number of months and have followed the progress of these proposals.

"If Glasgow intends to compete and win on a world stage, it needs to continue to attract major investments such as this and the inclusion of a hotel within these plans will further enhance the city's ability to meet growing demand, especially in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games in 2014."

John Wallace, principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, said: "We are delighted to hear about the plans for the Savoy Centre.

"We are always interested to find out what our neighbours are doing in Renfrew Street and will watch the development with interest."

Anderston/City councillor Gordon Matheson said: "This is the latest in a series of major boosts to Glasgow's economy and is a welcome fillip to the Sauchiehall Street part of town.

"Those who make these investments could take their money anywhere within the UK or beyond. The fact that they choose to spend in Glasgow is a great vote of confidence.

"The mixed-use for this site is exactly what the area needs and it is an added bonus that the useless and ugly pedestrian bridge over Renfrew Street will be removed."