The Barras in line for £1.5m regeneration
THE Barras could be in line for a £1.5 million investment, in a further attempt to revitalise the famous East End market.
Councillors from across Glasgow and the surrounding wards will debate on the proposal.
If passed it would see the first phase of the Calton Barras Public Realm project given the green light.
If approved, developers will be able to start work right away with a projected finishing date set for March 2018.
Work would begin this month on necessary groundwork to create spaces for creative industries to move into.
Initial works would also lead to the construction of a recycling hub.
A report outlining the proposal, which will be put forward at tomorrow’s city region cabinet meeting, described the plans as a major step in encouraging businesses to invest in the area.
The report said: “The revitalisation of this area is both critical in overcoming barriers to wider development of the whole Collegelands Calton Barras area as a key gateway to the East End and as a location for economic growth in the city region.
“To not address the issues in the Barras area would blight surrounding development potential.
“Public realm works to the Barras are a critical element to this in creating an environment that businesses would wish to invest.”
The £1.56m plans were signed off by the city region’s group of chief executives in August last year and a contractor was chosen to carry out the work.
From four bids, Covanburn Contracts Limited won the mini-competition set up by the city deal chiefs.
The meeting of members tomorrow will be the final stage if a motion is carried to go ahead.
Giving green light to the plans would add to previous projects that have been focussed on the Barras and the surrounding area.
A previous project is the on- going Calton Barras Action Plan, which freed up £5.2m made available to businesses wishing to start up in the area.
So far £4m of this fund has been used.
Development of the area has seen the likes of BAaD (Barras Art and Design) transformed into a food hub for Calton as well as a space for regular events including a monthly vintage market.
The report on the latest proposal also said: “The Barras public realm phase one works are part of the wider strategy in developing the area as a location for high-value cultural and creative industries supplementing the area’s traditional role.
“This has seen some nascent successes recently... with a number of new businesses moving in to vacant and underused space in the area, capitalising on its location.”
The proposal is part of the £1billion City Deal and, if successful, the potential project will be handed to Glasgow City Council to oversee to its completion.