Glasgow Buchanan Galleries demolition plan dropped

The shopping centre was to be demolished in an £825m redevelopment plan

Plans to demolish the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre in Glasgow have been dropped after the owners decided to change their redevelopment plan.

An area around the centre on Sauchiehall Street was to be completely rebuilt as part of an £825m project to boost the day and night-time economies in the city.

Developers Landsec said they wanted to create a mixture of places to eat, socialise, live and work and accommodate world-class shopping.

But they now believe this can be achieved with the galleries forming part of their “vision” for the site.

The rethink comes after the developers decided the retail sector had recovered sufficiently since the Covid pandemic and there was a desire from businesses and customers to keep the centre.

Landsec will now produce a new masterplan which will include “rejuvenating Glasgow's prime retail destination”.

The company's head of retail development, Nick Davis, said: "Given the way cities have changed, and retail’s strong post pandemic recovery, we’re exploring a masterplan that can be delivered in incremental phases.

“In conversations with brands, and through engagement with the public, we know that there is both consumer and commercial appetite for this to be delivered and delivered quickly."

Landsec previously released plans for redevelopment of the top end of Buchanan Street

Mr Davis said the developers recognised the need for investment at the top end of Buchanan Street.

"The advantage of retaining and investing in the existing building means we can deliver more quickly for Glasgow’s community, whilst being less disruptive and less carbon intensive than our previous proposal,” he said

“We believe that over time we can create a new city centre district, anchored by the Galleries that responds to the way people want to live, shop and work."

The developer said it had also bought a building at 229-249 Buchanan Street adjacent to the galleries.

Landsec's plans previously changed when it found the removal of the Sauchiehall Street portion of Buchanan Galleries would make it difficult to retain the Royal Concert Hall steps in their current shape.

It said it recognised that they served as an important space for public gatherings.

Designers then proposed options that included replacement steps with improved accessibility for all, which would also contribute to an overall increase in the amount of public space.