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STV News
23-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
How can Glasgow save its world-class architectural legacy?
Glasgow, a city renowned for its rich architectural legacy, is struggling with the costs of maintaining and restoring its historic buildings. Home to some of the finest examples of architecture by figures such as Alexander 'Greek' Thomson and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the city's streets are filled with works that tell the story of its industrial and cultural past. The St Vincent Street Church, designed by Greek Thomson, is considered one of the last great Thomson works still standing and is recognised by the World Monument Fund. Norry Wilson, the founder of history page Lost Glasgow, warns the city is at risk of losing the heritage site. Speaking to STV News, he said: 'Thomson built all over Glasgow, building magnificent tenements, churches and public buildings. 'This is the last of Thomson's absolutely great churches, and if we are to lose this on our watch, future generations wouldn't be very kind to us. 'Glasgow's problem is two-fold. We are too poor just now, but we were once so rich – so we had this huge inheritance of Georgian and Victorian architecture which we now cannot afford to maintain.' The church is among 68 significant buildings, including the Elder Park farm and Kings Park courtyard, which have been identified as being at risk. Many of these buildings now face an uncertain future due to financial constraints and the difficulty of preserving buildings that are often in urgent need of repair. STV News Alexander Greek Thomson buildings are at risk of falling into disrepair. Lilly Erskine, senior associate at civil engineering firm Narro, said: 'It's hugely important that Glasgow keeps its built heritage. It's a city whose identity is founded in its links to industry and to the arts and all of that is shown in the buildings around us. 'There is very rarely a need for a building to be pulled down. There is almost always a way to save them from a structural perspective. 'We can repair them, we can hold them up. Bar making them float, we can do anything. But it's often the financial implications that get in the way.' The city council acknowledges it is urgently looking to secure investment and in turn refurbishment or re-development, with a view to be used by the community, public or private sector. However, if no other options are viable, there is a warning that some of the sites listed, and others, face partial or full demolition. Councillor Ruari Kelly said more than £250m has been spent on 'protecting and developing' built heritage over the last few years. 'Finding a new use that gives these buildings a new lease of life is the most practical way forward,' he added. 'As much as people want to see modern, all-singing, all-dancing buildings, they want to see the heritage protected. They want to see old buildings and the character of the city, they don't want that to disappear.' One avenue being explored is the equalisation of VAT. Developers are currently charged 20% VAT on the construction and repair of commercial buildings. However, converting commercial properties to homes incurs just a 5% rate. If residential property is built on vacant land, no VAT is paid at all. Council chiefs have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer asking if something can be done to even out those rates. They are also advocating for empty premises to be converted from retail to residential in an attempt to encourage people back into a city centre vacated by two Covid lockdowns. Kelly said: 'We have written to both governments and had responses from both. Whilst we haven't sorted anything yet, the door wasn't closed in our face. 'They were open to discussions to see how we can all work together to protect heritage in Glasgow and get development going. 'If Glasgow is to be a pilot city in the way this could work, we are more than happy to blaze a trail and show the way for other cities as well, all we need is that agreement from the UK and Scottish Governments.' STV News Glasgow's heritage buildings are at risk due to rising maintenance costs Experts in designing and restoring significant historic buildings agree that VAT is a significant barrier to entry. There have been some cases elsewhere where a developer has removed and retained a building's façade and beauty – only to completely rip out its carcass and build a brand new structure, before carefully reassembling its front. Melanie Hay, director of conservation architects Hamilton Hay Van Jonker, says projects must be both economically and environmentally sustainable. 'Development has to be economically viable – you can look at buildings that are beyond the point of no return, and people just don't want to invest in them, so it's striking that balance. 'Fifteen years ago, you didn't pay VAT on a refurbishment project, now you're paying 20%, so that can really stagnate the market. So things at a national level can be done to instigate development there.' The Scottish Government's housing strategy, Housing to 2040, notes that reductions in VAT on household repairs would encourage home renovation and improve existing housing stock. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government has pressed the UK Government – which is responsible for VAT – to tackle the challenge of decarbonising and retrofitting existing buildings. This would help to reduce emissions, preserve our architectural heritage and regenerate communities. 'The imbalance needs to be addressed to encourage projects which retain existing buildings, instead of demolition and rebuild.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Arab News
26-01-2025
- General
- Arab News
World Monument Fund to protect historic sites with Bahraini, Saudi, and Gulf partners
MUHARRAQ: On a historical preservation tour around the Arabian Gulf region, the World Monument Fund recently visited the city of Muharraq in Bahrain before visiting Saudi Arabia. A historically rich city with a story that dates to the late 19th century, Muharraq is the cultural heart of Bahrain. Prior to gaining independence from British rule in 1971, Muharraq was Bahrain's capital and center for public and governmental administrative, educational, and planning projects, before being replaced by Manama in 1923. Though the city held many significant historical sites, its residents began to leave soon after and the area was left neglected. Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, president of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and chairperson of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, founded the Sheikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Center for Culture and Research in 2002, a non-profit organization, as a form of cultural renaissance. Since its founding, the center's purpose has been to form a space where thinkers could gather and share ideas in philosophy, literature, poetry, art, and culture. In discussion with the Royal Commission of AlUla and the Heritage Commission for future partnerships, the World Monument Fund is visiting AlUla as well as Historic Jeddah for the Islamic Arts Biennale. The most significant aspect of its work, however, has been the house restoration projects in Muharraq and Manama, where 28 historical houses, many of which belonged to prominent Bahraini figures and families, have been brought back to life under the leadership of Al-Khalifa. Over the weekend, a delegation from the World Monument Fund visited the Sheikh Ebrahim Center to see the restored houses firsthand. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the mission of the World Monuments Fund is to safeguard heritage all around the world, Benedicte de Montlaur, president of the fund, told Arab News. Al-Khalifa was awarded the Watch Award by the World Monument Fund in 2015 and after a few visits to their offices in New York, she was asked to join them as a member of the board of trustees, making her the only Arab on the board. In an interview with Arab News, Al-Khalifa said she felt it was her responsibility to keep them informed about the Arab world and all that it has to offer. 'The picture that travels to the world is not always true or complete, and in our Gulf countries there are many landmarks, monuments, and national identities that we would like to showcase,' she said. The delegation first visited the Abdullah Al-Zayed House for Bahrain Press Heritage, the house of the first journalist to start a daily newspaper in the kingdom and which now hosts local and international speakers from the media sector. Next up was the Kurar House, where Al-Kurar Ladies spend their time embroidering traditional Bahraini thobes and other garments by hand. Like the strings of an instrument, three women work on the thread separately, and one stitches them together simultaneously on the fabric, creating a harmonious rhythm. The delegation also got to see the only room left of Sheikh Ebrahim's original house, a room that dates back around 200 years. Following the tour of the Sheikh Ebrahim restored houses projects, they also visited the houses of the Pearling Path and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dilmun Burial Grounds. With over 70 projects in the Arab world including the Louvre, the Smithsonian, and Babylon in Iraq, restoring the Imam Palace in the city of Taizz in Yemen, and Abydos in Egypt, the fund's next mission is to become more active in the Gulf region. 'We see that there is a lot of interest in heritage in countries from the GCC,' de Montlaur said. The first stop was Kuwait, where plans are underway to have Failaka Island added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. After visiting their partners from the UNESCO Regional Center and the Sheikh Ebrahim Center in Bahrain, the delegation's next destination is Saudi Arabia, 'a country that is devoting a lot of time and energy at the moment to heritage,' de Montlaur said. In discussion with the Royal Commission of AlUla and the Heritage Commission for future partnerships, the World Monument Fund is visiting AlUla as well as Historic Jeddah for the Islamic Arts Biennale. 'If you do not know your past, it is very difficult to build a future because you lose your identity,' de Montlaur said. 'Especially in countries like here, that are developing really fast … it is extremely important also to pay attention to heritage places because it is very easy to destroy them, but when they are gone, they're gone. They cannot be rebuilt. 'Once you have lost the spirit of a place and built modern buildings everywhere, then you have lost touch with your past.' Preserving the land's past also draws in crowds of tourists who get to experience each country's distinct identity and history for the first time to learn about the place and its people, de Montlaur added. 'Heritage places represent the pinnacle of human achievements of history.' On how the Arab world can work together to create a stronger stance for historical preservation, de Montlaur said: 'I think it is already happening,' citing the various projects in Iraq, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, etc. She also added: 'There is a big need for heritage preservation in other countries outside of the GCC, so they could align their forces. 'There is so much need in Egypt, in Gaza … in Syria … and I think what is very much part of the Arab countries is this solidarity, they can all unite around this heritage because this is the heritage of all the Arabs.' Al-Khalifa added: 'In Gaza, many landmarks have been destroyed, part of the upcoming plan is restoring some of those sites. 'It's really a heritage of humanity as a whole and that is why every one of us, whether we are from the region or not, should care about it. But before anything else, it is the history and identity of the Arabs,' de Montlaur noted. Speaking on the shared language and culture that unite Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Al-Khalifa, who is also a part of the Royal Commission of AlUla, said that emotions and love between peoples are what bond them forever. 'This visit is not only to Bahrain but to our Gulf,' she said. 'We always repeat: our Gulf is one, our goals are one, and our history is shared; so everything that distinguishes us — from identity to monuments — is an extension of civilizations thousands of years old.'
