10,000 jobs for Glasgow as Tradeston waterfront set for HUGE facelift

A new modern quarter of the city will be created with housing, offices, bars, restaurants, a crèche and substantial public realm improvements.

It will cover some 1,250,000 sq ft of the neglected city centre zone facing the banks of the River Clyde and could bring billions to the city.

Work could begin as soon as October as Glasgow City Council agreed to sell the final pieces of land to developers Drum Property Group.

Tom Turley, Assistant Executive Director of Development and Regeneration Services, has been working on the project now for more than two years.

“This is a once in a generation opportunity to make a statement on Glasgow’s waterfront,” he said.

The development will include two office blocks, one just over 500,000 sq ft – which is about two-and-a-half times bigger than the new Scottish Power office.

The second will be smaller, at 210,000 sq ft, but together they will host around 7,000 jobs.

There will be 310 build-to-rent residential units in Buchanan Wharf.

Outline planning permission was granted in 2016 and contains approved land uses for offices, residential, hotel, serviced apartments, retail, bars, restaurants and a crèche.

Designs are currently being drawn up by four different architecture firms and construction could begin in October.

Example drawings on Drum Property Group’s website show a transformed and attractive river side.

Mr Turley told the Contracts and Property Committee “there’s a lot of creativity” in the room.

Committee members supported the £1.3m land sale of three smaller sites within the three waterfront blocks to Drum Property Group.

And in what was a rare scene, the meeting gave a round of applause for the council director Mr Turley who has been driving the project.

Councillor Frank Docherty said: “I’ve sat in some committees and seen a lot of deals go through — but I’ve never seen a deal as big as this, not for a long time.

“I don’t know the exact number, but I’m told it could be as many as 10,000 jobs coming to Glasgow.

“This is a dream multibillion pounds project that could be the biggest thing Scotland has had in a long time.

“Huge congratulations to Tom Turley and all of the team who have been working on this.”

The Tradeston foot and cycle bridge was finished in 2007 to complement what was hoped to be an upcoming development of the area.

However, the 2007/8 financial crash devastated hopes of breathing new life into the area.

Council officers have kept in close contact with potentially interested developers since then.

“Following the economic crash the commitment and leadership shown by Glasgow City Council to kick-start the regeneration of the Tradeston district has been considerable,” read Mr Turley’s report to the committee.

Closer plans will emerge over the coming months where an idea of what Buchanan Wharf will actually look like.

New committee member Councillor Kenny Andrew told colleagues “this is incredibly exciting”.

Councillor Greg Hepburn said: “I’d like to emphasise my support for this project, it’s really exciting and on the scale of a city deal contributing to the city.”

Bailie Russell Robertson said: “This development shows us how dynamic Glasgow is and could be.”

Drum Property Group says the project will be a “benchmark” for Scotland an “new distinctive quarter for the city”.

A statement reads: “The aim is to provide a safe, clean, attractive and stimulating environment, in which residents enjoy a stimulating community, business can thrive, and colleagues can interact professionally, productively and socially.

“This ambitious and dynamic place making is intended to resolve the poor connectivity and linkages between the city centre and the South side of the river and to activate over a quarter of a mile of river frontage in one of the UK’s most aspirational cities.”

Mr Docherty added: “I don’t know if I should say this or not, but once again, you have proven value for money Mr Turley. I am so proud of what you guys have done.”