Update given on Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station masterplan for huge redevelopment
An update on the progress of the concept Masterplan to significantly redevelop Buchanan Bus Station was given to a Glasgow City Council committee.
The concept Masterplan for the bus station and surrounding city block was produced by Glasgow City Council and SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) and proposes a mixed-use development with a modern and flexible bus station and mobility hub at its heart. Potential other uses for the site – which will feature improved public realm and new greenspace - include flats, student accommodation, shops, offices and a hotel. Provision around the replacement of Concert Square Car Park will also be a consideration for the Masterplan as it further develops.
The concept Masterplan has five key themes that were identified by extensive public engagement with a variety of groups and subsequent workshops:
- A 21st Century Mobility Hub - the bus station is envisioned as a modern, sustainable and resilient multimodal transport interchange that supports seamless connectivity across Glasgow and beyond;
- Enhanced User Experience - passenger comfort, safety, and convenience are central to the design;
- Quality Development - the development will be underpinned by high-quality architecture and placemaking;
- Future of Cowcaddens - the bus station will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Cowcaddens, contributing to its transformation into a lively, mixed-use urban quarter; and
- Integrated Glasgow - the station will be a key node in Glasgow’s integrated transport network, supporting active travel and public transport interchange.
Development of concept the Masterplan was guided by the council’s City Centre Strategic Development Framework, which identified Cowcaddens and Townhead as districts with transformational potential, where urban repair could help drive the re-densification and re-population of Glasgow city centre.
Other city centre strategies identified both the underperformance of areas around the bus station, and that it could be integrated more effectively into surrounding areas. Better integration with such an important hub would deliver considerable multimodal transport benefits.
Replacing Concert Square car park will also be considered as the masterplan progresses.
The Masterplan will become a material consideration for developers looking to invest and in decision-making by planning officers once and if approved by the council’s City Administration Committee.
A report, to be presented to councillors next week, states the masterplan “sets the scale and ambition for repairing the local city fabric and achieving a modern, flexible bus station and sustainable travel hub within a wider mixed-use development”.
At an SPT meeting in March, a report stated the masterplan was expected to be “given status as ‘planning guidance’” in April, but discussions with the council were ongoing.
It added: “To take this ambition forward to delivery will require significant investment and partnership working.
“To prepare for this, officers are currently engaging with a range of public sector partners, including the National Wealth Fund and Glasgow City Council to gain insight and identify opportunities to align with any wider development aspirations across the city and region.
“Opportunities to promote the masterplan at local and national events to stimulate investor and development interest in the project are also being considered.”
Public consultation on the plan was held between October 28 and November 24 last year, with over 950 complete responses.
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