Latest news with #RaintonConstructions
Glasgow Times
16-05-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
All the George Square statues have been taken down
The 11 bronze statues were taken down this week by specialist contractors using cranes and harnesses. The last monuments to be removed were the equestrian statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at the west side of the square and the seated statue of James Watt. READ NEXT:Glasgow's Bonfire Night fireworks display could return this year They will be removed to a storage location where they will be cleaned and then any restoration work carried out. The statues will be returned to take their place in the newly redeveloped square, which is expected to be complete and open to the public in the autumn of 2026, (Image: Colin Mearns) George Square is now closed off to the public and sealed off with hoardings, getting ready for the redevelopment work to start. The 11 bronze statues are of famous and renowned people for their achievements across politics, arts, science and military. They are poets, Robert Burns, and Thomas Campbell, engineer, James Watt, chemist, Thomas Graham, politicians, Robert Peel, William Gladstone and James Oswald, military figures, Field Marshall Lord Clyde and John Moore and two horseback statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. (Image: Colin Mearns) READ NEXT:Community centre will not reopen after long running campaign The contract for the construction work was signed off earlier. The contract, worth £ 20.499 million awarded to Rainton Constructions. Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: "Over the 16 or so months from June, we will see a new and significantly improved public space take shape – a new square on a par with many of our international peers, one Glaswegians can be proud of, and which is fitting of a city of our standing.'
The National
12-05-2025
- Business
- The National
First George Square statue taken down for restoration
An effigy of poet Robert Burns was removed from its plinth today, the first of 11 bronze statues taken from the square for conservation and restoration purposes, with the rest set to follow in the next two weeks. One of Europe's leading metal and statue conservation firms, Rupert Harris Conservation, will be tasked with restoring the George Square pieces before their return in summer 2026. The statues will be wrapped in blankets and black plastic for protection (Image: Colin Mearns/NQ) Hoardings were erected around the area on April 30 and renovation work will begin once all statues have been removed and placed in storage. The George Square redevelopment plan is set to take around 18 months, with a £20 million contract awarded to Rainton Constructions to cover the project. Read more: Scottish charity handed £50k from LEZ fines to help 'vital' community work As part of the wider Avenues project, the contract also covers the creation of links connecting streets near the square, including North Hanover Street, West George Street and St Vincent Place. The Avenues project aims to make Glasgow better connected, boost business, increase green spaces in the area and make the city a more 'welcoming, people friendly' place for residents and tourists alike, according to Glasgow City Council.
Glasgow Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Hoardings go up around Glasgow's George Square as revamp gets underway
Pictures show wooden hoardings going up on Wednesday, April 30 with Glasgow's civic square now being completely closed off to the public. Images showing what the new square will look like have also been placed on top of the boards. It has been confirmed 11 bronze statues in the square will be removed for conservation and restoration between May 12 and 23 as work gets underway. READ NEXT: Residents 'extremely disappointed' over decision to axe George Square feature (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) They will be returned to the square some time in 2026. The Glasgow Times previously reported the £20.499m contract for the construction work has been signed after it was awarded to Rainton Constructions. It covers not only the George Square works, but also the creation of Avenues at North Hanover Street (between Cathedral Street and George Square); George Street (between Montrose Street and George Square); West George Street (between Nelson Mandela Place and George Square); Cochrane Street and St Vincent Place. The plans put before the contracts and property committee this week state: "The work on George Square will deliver high-quality stone throughout; informal 'play' areas for children in sensory gardens in the eastern areas; a raised lawn platform; new trees species will be planted to add to the existing Norway Maple and Cherry trees in the Square; new seating to add to the remembrance benches; and feature lighting." READ NEXT: Date revealed for removal of historic George Square statues (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) A water feature, which was previously included in plans, has been axed due to a lack of budget leaving some residents 'extremely disappointed'. The paper said: "Whilst there was an aspiration in early design stages to include a water feature as part of the redevelopment plans, this was removed from the tender documents to ensure that there was sufficient project budget to undertake the core works. "Given the value of the landed tender for the Block C project, there is insufficient project budget remaining to include the water feature and it no longer forms part of the project scope." George Square is expected to reopen in autumn 2026, with work on the surrounding avenues being completed up until April 2027. (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)
Glasgow Times
01-05-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Date revealed for removal of George Square statues
They will return next year and be back in place for the re-opening of the new look square. The council said: 'Between 12-23 May, the 11 bronze statues in the Square will be removed - for conservation and restoration - before their return to the Square in 2026.' The 11 statues are of famous and renowned people for their achievements across politics, arts, science and military. They are poets, Robert Burns, and Thomas Campbell, engineer, James Watt, chemist, Thomas Graham, politicians, Robert Peel, William Gladstone and James Oswald, military figures, Field Marshall Lord Clyde and John Moore and two horseback statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The contract for the construction work has now been signed. The contract, worth £20.499million awarded to Rainton Constructions. It covers not only the George Square works, but also the creation of Avenues at North Hanover Street (between Cathedral Street and George Square); George Street (between Montrose Street and George Square); West George Street (between Nelson Mandela Place and George Square); Cochrane Street and St Vincent Place. 'These works will be done in two phases, with George Square, St Vincent Place and West George Street due for completion in August 2026, and Cochrane Street and the sections of George Street and North Hanover Street to be complete in the Spring of 2027. The new tree species to be planted in George Square and the surrounding Avenues through the project include 'Robin Hill' Pink Juneberry; 'Frans Fontaine' Hornbeam; 'Forest Pansy' Redbud; Oleaster; 'Autumn Gold' Gingko; Burgundy Sweetgum; a couple of Rowan species; a number of Flowering Cherry species; and Pin Oak. Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: 'This is a huge milestone in the transformation of George Square. "The appointment of Rainton means the main construction works are now just weeks away, adding real momentum and a sense of excitement to this historic project. "Glaswegians will already have seen the construction site starting to take shape but the appointment of this contractor is the last major piece of the jigsaw. "Over the 16 or so months from June, we will see a new and significantly improved public space take shape – a new square on a par with many of our international peers, one Glaswegians can be proud of, and which is fitting of a city of our standing.'
