Millions set to be spent improving ‘ Tradeston Links’
FUNDING of £ 1.2 million to deliver improvements to Tradeston Bridge and the public realm is expected to be agreed next week by the city council.
The money will be made available from the Glasgow City Region City Deal with Barclays matching it with £ 1m funding of their own.
Another element of the work planned to continue the redevelopment of Tradeston
– the ‘ Tradeston Links’ – will see enhanced lighting at three nearby railway underpasses to encourage active travel to and from the emerging Barclays Glasgow Campus.
This work will complement the development of a 3.7- hectares site facing the waterfront at Tradeston, an area that despite its proximity to the city centre and the International Financial Services District, suffered through de- industrialisation with the loss of much of its population and economic base.
The developer, Drum Property Group, is creating a major mixed- use development on seven blocks featuring ‘ Grade A’ office space, flats, a mix of local amenities and landscaped public spaces – with Barclays being the principal occupant.
Barclays will host their flagship state- of- the- art global campus on 500,000sq ft of the office space in this development, which will be able to accommodate up to 5000 people making the bank one of the city’s biggest commercial employers as it doubles its headcount in Glasgow.
The three elements of the project will improve place quality in the areas around the campus, and improve quality and safety on key routes to it.
The council will now progress discussions with Barclays on the formal agreement on the bridge and public realm works.
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and chairwoman of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said:
“The development of this site is already transforming Tradeston and that part of the Clydeside, and will deliver a tremendously significant and welcome boost to Glasgow’s economy.
Working with Barclays, this investment in improvements to Tradeston Bridge and the local public realm will play a key part in the regeneration of the area, making it more attractive to the many people who will soon be working and living there.”
The Glasgow City Region City Deal will see £ 500m funding from both the Scottish and UK Governments.
Around £ 113.9m of this funding will be invested in the Clyde Waterfront and West End Innovation Quarter, with the aim of regenerating the Clyde corridor to create a desirable urban quarter that attracts jobs and investment, contributing to the economic growth of the city region.
As anchor tenant, Barclays will lead on the delivery of the public realm work, in partnership with the council.
Vivienne Grafton, Global Head, CRES and Location Strategy,
Barclays, said: “The Barclays Glasgow Campus will create world- class facilities for our business as we continue to grow our headcount in Scotland.
“The campus will revitalise this area of Tradeston and act as a catalyst for wider improvements including the enhancements being made to the bridge and quay.
“Our match funding with the City Deal is one of a number of initiatives we are supporting so that our overall investment benefits the community in Glasgow.”