logo
New plan revealed for historic Glasgow West End church

New plan revealed for historic Glasgow West End church

Glasgow Times6 days ago
The Partick Methodist Church on Dumbarton Road could be transformed into an events and community hub in an effort to "secure the long-term future of the building and deliver meaningful public value".
The team at Engine Works, who submitted the proposal, described the site as a "much-loved local landmark dating back to 1881".
Under the bid, the firm is hoping to create a vibrant arts and events space in the West End venue, fit for a new generation.
The applicant is looking to invest £1.65 million to create The West Works, drawing inspiration from London and New York.
New plan revealed for historic Glasgow West End church (Image: Sourced) (Image: Sourced) Current interior (Image: Sourced)
READ NEXT: Plan for new Glasgow hall rejected after residents all said the same thing
Forms explained: "This transformation will support jobs, create opportunities, and contribute to Partick's ongoing renewal - just as we've seen at The Engine Works in Maryhill."
Documents argue that the refurbishment is necessary because over the decades, the church has fallen into disrepair.
Previously, it was granted a demolition warrant but this "bold and sensitive" proposal aims to give it a new lease of life.
Papers added: "At its heart is the transformation of a derelict church into a contemporary space that honours heritage through sustainable, high-quality architecture.
"This project demonstrates how thoughtful restoration can enrich the cultural landscape, support the local economy, and meet the city's growing need for inclusive, creative spaces.
"It's a rare opportunity to preserve a cherished site and give it a lasting purpose."
Proposed look (Image: Sourced) (Image: Sourced) (Image: Sourced)
READ NEXT: New plans unveiled to upgrade Glasgow's city centre waterfront
The application details how the church's grand hall would be a space used for filming, art performances, weddings and events.
Behind it, the vestry would be made into a two-level space designed for workshops, exhibitions and meetings with the option to partition for privacy.
At the back, the ivy tower would become a catering kitchen with a staff office, as well as restrooms and VIP rooms.
Finally, the hidden garden would be landscaped for accessibility, functionality and vehicular use for filming, loading and event logistics.
Applicant The Engine Works said about itself: "Glasgow-born, we take pride in building something lasting in the city that shaped us.
"Over the past 20 years, we've grown award-winning businesses - working with global brands while staying true to our values of innovation, quality, sustainability, and integrity."
(Image: Sourced) (Image: Sourced)
Glasgow City Council planning officials are considering the bid and a decision is expected by Tuesday, September 16.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New £100million indoor resort to open in the UK with ‘next generation waterpark' and thermal spas
New £100million indoor resort to open in the UK with ‘next generation waterpark' and thermal spas

The Sun

timea day ago

  • The Sun

New £100million indoor resort to open in the UK with ‘next generation waterpark' and thermal spas

A huge Therme spa complex with a huge indoor waterpark, pools and slides, is still coming to Glasgow. Therme Group has plans to open multiple new sites across the globe, including one in Scotland. 4 Since the announcement of its opening back in 2021, there haven't been many updates on the upcoming Therme Scotland. But the company confirmed the build was still going ahead in a recent Instagram update. On social media it created a post about Therme's new destinations across the globe which included Manchester and Glasgow. The new attraction is planned to open in central Glasgow next to the Riverside Museum at a cost of £100million. The site will have a "next-generation indoor waterpark" with 35 water slides, 25 pools which are both indoor and outdoor, and a wave pool. There will be more relaxing areas too like thermal spas, wellbeing garden, sauna, steam room and exotic relaxation areas. The initial plans in 2021 also included a bridge being built across the River Kelvin. This would link the Riverside Museum to Therme Scotland and expanding access to the Glasgow waterfront. At the time of its announcement in 2021, Therme Group CEO Stelian Iacob said: "Therme Scotland will create a fun and accessible experience with profound health and wellbeing benefits for all. "We look forward to engaging with the Glasgow community as we progress with the design and development of Therme Scotland.' 4 4 Forming part of Peel Waters in Glasgow, Therme Group is expected to update designs ahead of formal planning submission in late 2025. Therme Manchester was initially announced in March 2020 with an initial opening in 2024 - however it is still in the works. The attraction bosses have said the first major construction phase will start later in 2025. The huge complex was predicted to take between 24 and 30 months to build, so it could mean that it's might not be open until 2028. Costs have risen too, initially the build was set to be £250million, this has since jumped to £400million. When the Manchester site does open, it will have a waterpark with 25 swimming pools, 35 water slides and even an indoor beach. And it will be 33C all-year round so visitors can enjoy it whatever the weather. Therme Spa is known for its affordability, at the site in Bucharest, one day entry tickets cost from €36 (£31.28). One woman even flew herself and her mum out to the Therme Spa in Romania because it was cheaper than a spa day trip in the UK. Flights and spa passes for the pair set them back £315 - rather than the £400 at the spa in their neighbourhood. For anyone who can't get enough of spas, take a look inside the new spa woodland pods in the UK that make you feel like you're abroad. And check out this European beer spa where you bathe in hops with a pint - and you can get there by train. 4

Family-owned Scottish baker brand popularity surges
Family-owned Scottish baker brand popularity surges

The Herald Scotland

timea day ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Family-owned Scottish baker brand popularity surges

Glasgow-based bakery McGhee's, a fourth-generation family-owned business, noted this surge in brand popularity comes as it is expanding beyond its west of Scotland heartland with the aim of becoming 'a household name across the country'. Its second place is among Scottish fast-moving consumer goods brands, ranked according to their popularity in Scotland. The report reveals the ranking of shoppers' most chosen food and drink brands over the 52 weeks to October 2024, with dairy Graham's, teacake and caramel wafer producer Tunnock's, and pie maker Bells placed third, fourth and fifth respectively. In its report, Worldpanel by Numerator says: 'McGhee's is gaining ground through coverage across breakfast, lunch and snack moments. Like others in the bakery space, it faces pressure from evolving eating habits. "But its tone and outreach - especially on social media - suggest a push to connect with younger consumers. If the brand can continue to win new buyers while retaining its core, it has a good shot at sustainable growth in a segment that is otherwise softening.' Worldpanel by Numerator adds: 'From a portfolio perspective, McGhee's has also seen notable frequency gains across its top-selling SKUs (stock-keeping units), including rising repeat rates for staples like soft white floury rolls and pineapple tarts. An uplift in online channel sales also hints at improved digital shelf presence and broader accessibility beyond the traditional bedrock of supermarkets.' Meanwhile, Worldpanel by Numerator says of Irn-Bru: 'Irn Bru remains Scotland's most chosen brand. That result isn't surprising for this iconic drinks brand, but it is instructive. 'The brand continues to find its place in the middle of the day - lunch and afternoon snacks - even as pressure builds at evening meals. It's growing across a wider range of age groups, which suggests a deliberate shift in how it connects with shoppers.' Read more The consumer research ranks McGhee's as 13th most chosen among all fast-moving consumer goods brands in Scotland. Among bakery brands, McGhee's is third most chosen in Scotland, behind industry giants Warburtons and Hovis. Warburtons is the highest-ranking fast-moving consumer goods brand in Scotland, followed by Cadburys and then Walkers, with Irn-Bru 11th in this table and Graham's 14th. McGhee's noted: 'With a brand penetration of 50.8%, shoppers are buying McGhee's products an average of nearly 11 times per year.' It added: 'The Worldpanel by Numerator report highlighted strong sales of soft white rolls and potato scones among the products driving that growth.' McGhee's revealed that, in the last six months, its pre-packed roll sales have grown 42% on last year, declaring the 'launch of a new sourdough roll for more health-conscious consumers has also contributed to that success'. It added: 'In recent years continued investment in plant, equipment, and site expansion has enabled McGhee's to significantly increase production capacity." McGhee's observed this had helped sales of its 'signature rolls' to triple in volume. It added: 'McGhee's supplies a significant share of Scotland's bread rolls - around half are sold through supermarket retailers and independent convenience stores. Alongside its famous rolls, customer favourites such as empire biscuits, caramel shortcake, [and] assorted tarts, as well as pineapple and raspberry tarts, also continue to see strong demand. Read more 'The figures arrive as McGhee's embarks on an ambitious brand refresh ahead of the bakery's 90th anniversary next year, drawing on its heritage, reliability, and pride in feeding Scotland for generations.' The business said it hoped this would 'drive further growth, which would be reflected in next year's report'. The metric used in the study, consumer reach points, takes into account a brand's penetration and frequency, as well as the number of households in the country. Lesley Ann Gray, strategic insight director at Worldpanel by Numerator, said: 'For brands, the chances of finding a place in household cupboards and fridges around the world are as uncertain as a coin toss, with inflation and geopolitical pressures heavily influencing how people shop and which products they choose. 'That does not mean, however, that growth is purely down to chance. Even so, brands should anticipate that next year the odds of growth will decline from an even split, 50:50, to something more like 45:55, which means they will need to work even harder to achieve success.' She added: 'In Scotland, where overall consumption has remained flat, those [brand] choices tell us even more. There's no tide lifting all boats. To hold position, let alone grow, a brand must find relevance in how people eat, shop, and live. It's no longer enough to be visible. You have to be useful, and consistently so.' Aisling McGhee, commercial director at McGhee's, said: 'We are incredibly proud of our Scottish roots and the role we have played in helping to feed Scotland for four generations. Being included among the most popular Scottish brands - and among the top 20 brands across all categories - is an incredible achievement and testament to the strategy we have put in place in recent years. 'We are extremely proud of the team who have played such an important role in making this happen, and we have more to come - both in Scotland and beyond - built on the significant investments we have made in the business and the fresh new brand we are rolling out ahead of our anniversary in 2026.'

Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom: ‘We can split the Old Firm this season'
Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom: ‘We can split the Old Firm this season'

Times

timea day ago

  • Times

Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom: ‘We can split the Old Firm this season'

Tony Bloom has outlined his staggering level of ambition for Heart of Midlothian and insisted the club can split the Old Firm this season, become Scottish champions and participate in the Champions League within a decade. Bloom, the professional poker player and Brighton & Hove Albion owner and chairman, accepted his bold comments might invite ridicule from Celtic and Rangers fans and that the Parkhead club's manager, Brendan Rodgers, would not lose any sleep over them in the short term. The giant Glasgow clubs have won every league title in Scotland since 1985, with Celtic taking 13 of the last 14. Hearts have not been champions since 1960 and it would be astonishing if they could end decades of Old Firm domination given their turnover and wage bill is around one-quarter to one-fifth of Celtic and Rangers'. Last season they finished seventh in the league, 23 points behind Rangers and 40 behind Celtic. But significant improvement is expected under highly respected data specialists Jamestown Analytics, who Bloom has worked with for years, and new head coach Derek McInnes. Last November Jamestown signed a partnership deal to work with Hearts. 'I think that Hearts this season will have an excellent season,' said Bloom. 'I truly believe in the squad of players that has been assembled and I've got every faith in Derek's ability to get the best out of them and to improve them. I think we've got a very good chance of at least being second this season. I want to make sure that we are in the talk to win the title at the start of each season. Hopefully we won't just talk the talk but we will walk the walk.' This summer Bloom invested £9.86 million for a 29 per cent stake of non-voting shares in the fan-owned Edinburgh club. He will put no more money in but is convinced that first class recruitment, coaching, management, facilities and support structures can grow them into consistent title challengers, as happened when he bought into traditional Belgian also-rans Union Saint-Gilloise. In May that club, also using Jamestown's data, became national champions for the first time in 90 years. On Sunday evening Bloom had several hundred fans lapping up his every word as he addressed them in a suite at Tynecastle. He explained that he began to consider investing in a Scottish club two years ago because the competitive landscape was broadly comparable to Belgium's. Other clubs were in the frame and he spoke to some before being impressed and won over by outgoing Hearts chairwoman Ann Budge. He told the fans that he would attend a Hearts game for the first time against Aberdeen on Monday night. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. 'I think because of not being in the bubble [of Scottish football] I think it's easier for me. I've seen what we've done at Brighton, I've seen what we've done at Union Saint-Gilloise, so hence the confidence in where I think Hearts can go. I think when I took over in Belgium I had a one-off press conference and I was probably more guarded. Seven years ago things were a lot less proven, so I wasn't as bullish. Here I've just got a lot more confidence in what Hearts can do. 'I understand there will be a lot of Celtic [or] Rangers fans who will be laughing and saying 'well I've heard it all before'. I'm just saying it as I see it. I'm not saying it's going to be a straight line success, I'm not saying we're going to win trophies in this season or that season, but I genuinely believe that we will be a significant factor in Scottish football right here, right now and for the long term. Looking from afar, looking at the success we've had with Union Saint-Gilloise, I just thought there was an opportunity here to shake things up in Scotland. 'I do understand how difficult it is. I mean Celtic and Rangers' budgets are perhaps six or seven times' Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen's. That is a big obstacle to overcome. I don't think Brendan's going to be too concerned about what I'm saying. I'm not sure he's going to be too concerned about Hearts right now. But hopefully, over the course of the season [that changes]. It'd be great for Scottish football if he is worried about Hearts. I won't talk about what the odds are. I would just like to say that if we have not won the league title in the next 10 years I will be very disappointed.' Bloom consulted Uefa and was told he could not buy more Hearts shares because simultaneously owning 30 per cent or more of two clubs would mean they could not both play in the same European competition in the same season. As things stand he has had it confirmed that Hearts and Brighton would not be affected were they to be in the same tournament. 'There won't be any more investment from me, certainly while the Uefa rules stay as they are.' Every Scottish club should wish its rivals well in the European tournaments in order to boost the country's co-efficient, he said. This season even Celtic face a play-off to reach the Champions League proper. 'As and when Hearts win the league we want to go straight into the Champions League, we do not want to have two games.' He 'absolutely' believed Hearts would be in Uefa's elite tournament during his time with the club. 'And I hope that as and when Hearts do win the league, the coefficient is such that we go straight into the Champions League group stages. Just like Union Saint-Gilloise, by winning the league, have gone straight into this season's group stages of the Champions League.' Hearts v AberdeenScottish Premiership, 8pmTynecastle ParkTV Sky Sports

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store