New shops planned at landmark
New plans will see Buchanan Galleries revitalised, reports Drew Sandelands
IT has been the at the heart of Glasgow for more than 20 years, standing proudly at the top of the famed shopping ‘style mile.’
Now new images have been released which show how Buchanan Galleries could be extended to add more shops and offices.
Land Securities, which owns the shopping centre, has submitted an application to Glasgow City Council requesting permission to start work on a 10-storey extension.
It would have shops on the lower levels with offices above and would include the existing Subway station access at Dundas Square.
Planning permission in principle has previously been granted for the site.
The plans state: “This submission brings forward the detail of the southern extension building at Buchanan Galleries to provide a significant office and retail development within the heart of Glasgow city centre. Land Securities has been in discussions with Glasgow City Council for a number of years, attempting to bring forward this hugely important regeneration project.
“The proposals in this phase of development represent a significant investment by the applicant and provide an exciting opportunity to bring forward a high-quality office and retail floorspace within a key central location within Glasgow city centre.”
Two floors of retail space would be provided at ground and first floor level, with office space in the basement and up to level nine.
The owners previously postponed work on the shopping centre to prevent a conflict with the redevelopment of Queen Street station.
This scheme aims to infill a “redundant piece” of Buchanan Street and improve the area around Dundas Street and the train station’s west entrance.
It is a “complicated city centre site”, a planning report states, as the railway line runs underneath. Building over the line will mean retaining a ventilation system and integrating the current
Subway station into the new development.
The report adds: “It will be essential to upgrade Dundas Square into an attractive piece of public realm so that it becomes a proper entrance for the office, the Subway and the new station.
“The Subway entrance is subtly enveloped by the new development but given its own distinct space and signage. The existing route along Dundas Lane will be enhanced by the new development to make it feel brighter and safer.”
The development must also respect the adjacent listed Dundas House and create an “excellent entrance” to the offices from what is an “unattractive public space at the rear of Queen Street station”, the report continues.