02 Oct 2024
A plan to demolish Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow has been dropped following a review of the development.
Landsec, which owns the city centre shopping centre had intended to replace it with a residential development and new streets to reflect changing shopping habits and encourage city living.
The company said there has been a rethink and that the retail sector has recovered since the pandemic, which see new masterplan produced for the area.
It is likely to see the current building retained as the “anchor” for a new district.
Nick Davis, Landsec head of retail development said: “Given the way cities have changed, and retail’s strong post pandemic recovery, we’re exploring a masterplan that can be delivered in incremental phases and are re-focusing the first phase of our vision in rejuvenating Glasgow’s prime retail destination.
“In conversations with brands, and through engagement with the public, we know that there is both consumer and commercial appetite for this to be delivered and delivered quickly. With this in mind, we will shortly be bringing forward the first phase of a renewed vision for the transformation of Buchanan Galleries.”
The plan remains to create a new neighbourhood but with the shopping as a centrepiece.
Mr Davis added: “We recognise the need for investment at the top end of Buchanan Street and the advantage of retaining and investing in the existing building means we can deliver more quickly for Glasgow’s community, whilst being less disruptive and less carbon intensive than our previous proposal.
“We believe that over time we can create a new city centre district, anchored by the Galleries that responds to the way people want to live, shop and work. To facilitate this multi-phase masterplan approach, we have recently purchased 229-249 Buchanan Street adjacent to the Galleries – reaffirming our commitment to the city.”
