Glasgow has changed a lot in the last three decades. It’s overcome stereotypes of being run down and violent to become one of the UK’s biggest cultural hubs, but its city centre still lacks one thing: a shopping centre built this century.
Despite sitting right at the top of Glasgow’s biggest street, the Buchanan Galleries is less of a place you seek out and more of a huge, well-placed shelter from the rain. Although recent efforts to breathe new life into the near 30-year-old mall have been somewhat successful – introducing local vendors to vacant shops definitely makes the place feel more alive, and gives punters a reason to venture past Greggs – the inescapable fact is that it’s just gotten a little... old. Last year the Galleries was even threatened with demolition. Clearly, it’s time for a facelift.
And that’s exactly what owners Landsec want to give Buchanan Galleries. It’s just filed planning permission with the council to give the shopping centre a complete overhaul, which it says will ‘truly reflect the priorities of the local community’. The proposal, which has been developed with architectural firm Threesixty, is pretty ambitious, but Landsec argues it is a ‘direct response to the community's call for improved retail and leisure spaces in Glasgow’.
So what exactly do they want to do? On top of redoing the facade and improving accessibility for all visitors, the most significant changes would be felt in the food hall. At the moment, eating options are currently tucked away on a dingy top floor, but developers want to turn the area into a destination ‘glowing on the skyline’, with huge windows and more than one option for food. All of this, it is hoped, will ‘reframe Buchanan Galleries not just as a shopping destination but as a city centre landmark that is outward looking and generous’.
Planning permission has been received by Glasgow City Council, and it’s thought that they’ll have an answer by August 22. If permission is granted, it is hoped that the centre would remain open during construction, so you’d still be able to get your shopping fix throughout the process.
The ever-changing highstreet with Time Out
There’s always more news from the UK’s high streets, and we’re always there to report on it. In fact, we sat down to have an exclusive chat with the chancellor about what she’s doing to SOS (save our streets) – you can read that here. Plus, a brand new kind of IKEA store just opened in England and, in less exciting news, we’ve got information on all the high street stores that are shutting this year.
Plus: Dishoom is opening its second Scottish restaurant
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