'People Make Glasgow' tower to be redeveloped

The current Met Tower has been a Glasgow landmark since 1964

Glasgow City Council has approved plans to redevelop the Met Tower in Glasgow, known for its striking, pink "People Make Glasgow" display.

Bruntwood SciTech will spend £60m on refurbishing the 14-storey tower block and building a second 10-storey tower at the site beside Queen Street Station.

The company said it would create 200,000 sq ft of office space and be "a dedicated digital and tech hub in the heart of Glasgow."

Refurbishment work on the Met Tower is due to be completed by winter 2025, with the second tower due to be completed in 2026.

The Grade-B listed building was originally owned by City of Glasgow College but has been unused since 2014.

The iconic "People Make Glasgow" graphic was put up by the city council before Glasgow hosted the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The new Met Tower will bring the building back in use for the first time in a decade

The site is currently being prepared for construction.

Bruntwood SciTech said the site's construction would produce net-zero carbon, which means it will offset all produced carbon emissions.

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said there were no objections for the planning application.

The Met Tower was bought by property investors Osborne+Co in 2019 but was sold to Bruntwood SciTech for £16.2m in 2022.

An artist's impression of how the new towers will look on the Glasgow skyline

Daron Williams, of Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Glasgow is already on its way to becoming a world-leading tech hub and one of the UK’s fastest-growing clusters.

"We’re proud to be playing our part in galvanising the tech momentum in this city and couldn’t be better placed to do so in the heart of the city centre and innovation district - surrounded by two brilliant universities."

Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, called the investment "a huge vote of confidence in Glasgow’s growing reputation as an international centre of innovation, creativity and opportunity.

"Met Tower has been a Glasgow icon for 60 years and Bruntwood SciTech’s investment in this landmark will ensure it remains a symbol of the city for generations to come,” she said.