Scottish city to transform its skyline to become UK's 'mini New York'

Daily Record

a day ago

Glasgow is set to grow taller with plans for new skyscrapers in Charing Cross, Anderston Quay, Trongate and Cowcaddens.
Glasgow's skyline could soon rival that of New York as city chiefs unveil bold plans to welcome high-rise development and reshape the urban horizon.
Already arranged in a grid pattern reminiscent of the Big Apple, Scotland's largest city now appears ready to grow upwards as confidently as it has grown outwards.
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A newly published Tall Building Designs Guide from Glasgow City Council pinpoints four strategic areas, Charing Cross, Anderston Quay, Trongate and Cowcaddens, as front-runners for future skyscraper schemes, Express reports.
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The move marks a decisive break from previous decades, when building heights were curbed well below those seen in comparable European cities. By relaxing those limits, planners hope to bring fresh energy, investment and people into the heart of Glasgow.
At present, the city's tallest building is Buchanan Wharf in Tradeston, which rises to 80 metres and also holds the title of Scotland's tallest building.
Yet even that landmark is dwarfed by the UK's loftiest structures, such as The Shard in London, soaring to nearly 310 metres, and Deansgate Square South Tower in Manchester at 201 metres.
The tallest structure in Glasgow overall remains the Science Centre's Glasgow Tower, a 127-metre needle that can rotate a full 360 degrees, the highest fully revolving tower anywhere in the world.
Council leaders say the new guidance reflects a 'significant' shift in strategy, aimed squarely at addressing the city's relatively low centre-city population density, which they argue has long hampered economic momentum.
'Glasgow is unique among Scottish cities in having the scope to build upwards,' officers note in the report.
'Shaped by this Tall Buildings guidance, it is confidently expected the city skyline will change, building towards the kind of city-centre population density that is commonplace in European cities, and the comparable lack of which is an acknowledged barrier to growth in the UK.'
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The document also presses for more mixed-use projects, encouraging developers to weave retail and leisure venues into ground floors to boost daytime buzz and evening footfall alike.
Councillors on the City Administration Committee are due to vote on final approval soon, a decision likely to set the tone for Glasgow's skyline for decades.
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Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for development and land use, framed the guidance as a cornerstone of wider ambitions to expand both population and prosperity.
'Tall buildings will play a significant role in our ambition to grow the city centre population, and encouraging major construction projects will be a boost for the local economy and employment,' he said.
'Having clear parameters of what we will support, and where, will give clarity to residents and assurances to those who wish to invest and develop in our city.
"Glasgow is very much open for business, and if we want to see a thriving city, then we need to build it.'