Glasgow City Chambers
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
Council funding could be awarded to key housing projects in Glasgow as options to speed up the delivery of new homes are considered.
A draft blueprint for the regeneration and development of the city over the next decade includes plans for over 30,000 homes.
Glasgow City Council declared a housing emergency more than two years ago due to rising pressure on homelessness services.
But high interest rates and “huge inflation” in the cost of materials and labour have hampered the construction of more homes, Cllr Ruairi Kelly, the city’s housing convener, said.
If Glasgow “had 30,000 homes yesterday”, it could “probably fill most of them”, he added. “I will be doing everything I can to get as many of those homes delivered as possible.”
Meeting the housing demand over the short-term is “not realistic”, the SNP councillor said, as the “problem has been 40 years in the making”.
“It is going to take quite a time to build the volume of houses that’s required. That’s with us meeting targets, as opposed to what’s happening more recently with the downturn in housing delivery.”
In the draft plan, a deliverable housing land pipeline includes more than 6,300 homes in the next three years. Nearly 13,600 are planned in four to six years, with over 11,500 in the final years of the decade-long blueprint.
The housing convener said there is a “huge need” for social housing to deal with the homelessness crisis. Roughly, 11,000 of the 30,000 are set to be affordable homes.
But other types of tenure are required too — like larger family homes and properties for first-time buyers.
“We don’t want to have a situation where once you are no longer a student or a young professional, and you’re looking to start a family, you move outside of the city,” Cllr Kelly said.
“We need to retain that council tax base but we also want to have a really good mix of demographics and people throughout the city.”
The council is looking at how it can support financing projects. “It’s not that complicated,” Cllr Kelly added. “If it costs more to build a house than someone can sell it for or lease it for, it won’t get built. Unless there is some sort of public support or subsidy, or we can reduce the input costs.
“Everything has spiked at one time and it’s not feasible that you can just charge all of that extra, because people can’t afford either the rent or the mortgages.”
One option could be a growth fund to offer lower interest lending while the council could also “put money into strategic projects that will then deliver an increase in council tax”.
Cllr Kelly said if council funding helped to get 400 flats over the line, then the council tax return off those properties could be “payback for the investment”.
Glasgow is looking at “innovative ways that public finances can help support the delivery of housing across the piece”, he added.
“Whether that’s through increased social and affordable housing or whether it’s through supporting the private sector delivery. If we’ve got a private sector that is going gangbusters, that’s more jobs, it’s more economic activity.”
He also wants to explore ways to shorten the timeframe between applications being received and construction starting, so “every hour our planning team is spending going through applications is furthering the delivery of housing as much as it can”.
A council official said staff have to “take on any application that comes in”, but “a lot of applicants” seek pre-application engagement which can flush out “sites that are very difficult potentially or have a lot of issues”.
More than half of Glasgow’s population live within 500 metres of a derelict site, the draft plan states. Cllr Kelly said: “In some parts of the city, it will be much higher than that.
“Across that northern corridor, from Drumchapel to Easterhouse, where you had a lot of house clearances whenever old stock was knocked down, or old industrial sites that have been cleared.”
A major issue with vacant land is the need for remediation work. The city’s housing convener wants to see more funding from the Scottish Government to clean up these sites, which can then be used by social landlords or taken to the market.
“At the minute, you have got lots of land that essentially has a negative value because it costs more to get rid of whatever has been buried in the ground than what it would be worth to develop out,” Cllr Kelly said.
“That has a major impact, particularly in areas of higher deprivation as well,” he added, with studies showing it can impact health and educational outcomes as well making areas more attractive for fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.
Residents will be able to have their say on the latest city development plan later this year, when a public consultation is held.
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP has said the Sunday Times Rich List shows the need for a Scottish Wealth Tax to address the ‘ridiculous concentration of wealth’.
The 2026 Sunday Times Rich List has reported the top ten wealthiest people and families in Scotland are worth more than £23 billion combined, more than the total Scottish Income Tax paid in a year (£17.1bn).
The party’s co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP argues that this shows the need for a Scottish Wealth Tax that taxes wealth, not work.
This follows the party’s pledge to develop proposals to tax wealth through a Scottish Wealth Tax, as well as a range of other plans from taxing land and property more fairly to replacing the ‘broken’ Council Tax with a ‘fairer Residential Property Tax’, and introducing taxes on mansions, yachts and second homes which the Greens named ‘Offord tax’ after the Scottish Reform leader.
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP said:
“The Sunday Times Rich List shows a ridiculous amount of wealth in the hands of a tiny number of powerful people, while we are told there is no money for buses, roads, homes, schools or the NHS.
“Scotland is not poor. The problem is that far too much of our wealth has been hoarded by the likes of billionaires, landowners, oil barons, property empires, media dynasties and bus bosses.
“Scotland’s ten richest people and families are worth more than £23 billion between them. To put the scale of the inequality in perspective, that is more than all the income tax paid by workers across Scotland in an entire year.
“That tells you everything about the scale of inequality in Scotland’s economy. Working people are being forced to carry the burden, while a tiny number of billionaires hoard the wealth.
“Even a fraction of that kind of money would transform Scotland. It would help fund free buses, fix roads, improve social care, support the NHS, build warm homes and invest in the public services that every community relies on.”
Gillian added:
“The Scottish Greens are committed to taxing wealth, not work. By developing a Scottish Wealth Tax, we would make landowners, polluters, profiteers and billionaires pay their fair share, then use that money for the common good.
“And with the powers of a normal independent country, Scotland could go much further. We could properly tax wealth, land, property, and corporate profits to invest it in the good things people actually need, without the limitations of Westminster or the interests of corporate greed.
“The choice is simple. We can stick with the status-quo by protecting billionaires who extract profit from our communities and pollute our environment, or we can choose a different path, taxing extreme wealth and building a fairer, greener Scotland.”
Westminster
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Small businesses will no longer be left chasing money they are already owed, as ministers today introduce landmark legislation to end the scourge of late payments and back millions of sole traders, freelancers, and family firms across the country.
The Small Business Protections Bill (formally known as the Commercial Payments Bill) delivers the toughest crackdown on late payments in a generation – putting a clear duty on large firms to pay smaller suppliers on time and giving small businesses the certainty they need to keep investing, supporting jobs and growing their communities.
It comes as the Prime Minister and Business Secretary are expected to welcome small business owners and Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) representatives to Downing Street to mark what leaders have called a “historic moment for small firms”.
Late payments close 38 businesses every single day because they are not paid on time. That’s the equivalent of 266 a week, and well over a thousand in any given month. For business owners, the impact is immediate and personal – forcing them to spend hours chasing invoices instead of running their businesses and putting jobs and livelihoods at risk.
The Bill fundamentally changes how businesses pay each other, putting an end to excessive delays and unfair practices that hit small firms hardest, through sweeping new reforms.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy – run by people who take risks, create jobs and keep communities going. This government is firmly on their side.
“Too many small business owners are spending hours chasing money they are owed and when payments don’t come through, the cost is personal. It’s about whether you can pay your staff, keep the lights on, or invest in your future.
“Today we’re changing that with the toughest action on late payments in a generation, so small businesses get paid on time and get the backing they need to grow, create jobs and serve their communities.”
Reforms include a clear 60-day cap on payment terms on all large firms paying smaller suppliers, mandatory interest on late payments, set at 8% above the Bank of England base rate, and a ban on the practice of withholding retention payments under construction contracts.
On top of this, the Small Business Commissioner is getting major new powers to investigate poor payment practices, adjudicate disputes, and fine the worst offenders – with potential fines that could be worth tens of millions for persistently late payers.
The Office of the Small Business Commissioner has already recovered more money for small firms in the last year than in the previous four years combined.
By improving cashflow through supply chains, the Bill supports productivity, growth and keeps our small businesses afloat, by giving them the certainty they need to invest and grow.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said:
“Costing the UK economy £11 billion every single year, late payments choke growth, cost jobs, and force too many good businesses to close. That ends today.
“Through this landmark bill we are delivering the toughest payment reforms in over a generation, to give the UK the strongest legal framework in the G7, and back small businesses with the certainty they need to grow and thrive.”
Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall said:
“I’ve spoken to too many business owners who do everything right and are still left lying awake at night wondering how they’ll pay their staff or cover their bills because they haven’t been paid what they’re owed.
“Introducing this Bill is about standing up for those people, to restore fairness, dignity and security for small business owners and the self-employed, so they can focus on doing what they do best: growing their businesses and the economy.”
The Bill builds upon and strengthens legislation first laid out in the 1998 Late Payment of Commercial Debt Act, over 25 years ago, to give us the strongest legal framework on late payments in the G7.
After working closely with the Federation of Small Businesses, these Bill powers will also ensure boards or audit committees of persistently late‑paying large companies publish clear explanations of poor payment performance and the steps they are taking to improve it.
FSB Policy Chair Tina McKenzie said:
“Tackling late payment is one of the biggest things the government can do to help small businesses grow. FSB is proud to have worked with ministers on these reforms and it’s encouraging to see the voice of small firms reflected in legislation. Giving audit committees a clear role in payment practices is a vital step in changing late payment culture.”
The legislation forms part of a broader plan to back small businesses and turn the page on years of underinvestment by tackling the pressures they have faced from high inflation, borrowing costs and unnecessary bureaucracy. This includes small business rates relief of up to 100% for the smallest premises, shielding firms from costs,
Alongside this, the government is cutting costs for working families by halving childcare, introducing £2,000 incentives for SMEs hiring apprentices, boosting access to finance, and cutting red tape for hospitality, high street, and cultural venues.
It also follows the Prime Minister’s Small Business Plan, launched last year to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business. Developed in partnership with small firms, the plan will boost access to finance with £4 billion of additional support, make it easier to win government contracts, and brings together advice and funding through a new Business Growth Service so firms can access the help they need in one place.
The Bill is due to be introduced in the House of Lords on Tuesday 19 May.
First Minsiter John Swinney marking the start of the development
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
First Minister, John Swinney visited XWORKS in Dalmarnock today to mark the start of the £11m construction project which could create up to 150 jobs.
XWORKS will provide a new generation of flexible, innovation-led mid-tech workspace designed to support advanced manufacturing and pioneering research and development occupiers.
Located at Dalmarnock Cross, XWORKS will deliver 29,432 sq ft of state-of-the-art, high-value manufacturing space, alongside associated office accommodation. The development will play a key role in creating capacity to capture high-quality jobs, drive innovation, and support skills development in Scotland through modern, adaptable commercial premises.
XWORKS responds directly to growing demand for smaller, high-quality spaces for high-value manufacturing start-ups and scaling businesses, while also providing energy-efficient, future-focused workspace designed to support sustainable growth.
When complete, the flexible space will be able to accommodate a range of tenants with a shared rear yard, just minutes from the M8 and M74, and directly adjacent to Dalmarnock train station.
Spearheaded by Clyde Gateway, the XWORKS project is funded by UK Government (administered via Glasgow City Region), Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government (administered via Glasgow City Council’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund).
First Minister, John Swinney, said:
“Clyde Gateway is one of Scotland’s most significant regeneration projects and visiting the site today has shown the importance of public and private investment working together to grow our economy.
“Scotland has enormous economic potential – world-class universities, a highly skilled workforce, a growing tech sector, strength in energy, and a longstanding reputation for innovation.
“My ambition is that we fully realise that potential. I want to see an economy where businesses continue choosing to invest here, where young people can build careers here, and where communities across the country share in the benefits of growth.”
Martin McKay, Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway, said:
“Right on Dalmarnock Cross, and next to the train station, this is a prime area to attract high value manufacturing businesses and bring even more lucrative jobs to Dalmarnock.
“Since the inception of Clyde Gateway, we have welcomed 4000 new homes, created thousands of jobs and achieved £1.5bn of public and private sector investment. In this area of Dalmarnock alone, you can see the great progress that has been made in regenerating what was empty and contaminated land, with the fully let EastWorks, lots of new social and private housing, and the soon-to-be new park just across the road.
“It’s great to have the First Minister back in Clyde Gateway to show him progress and mark the start of the construction of XWORKS.”
The project, designed by Stallan Brand, is due for completion in early 2027 and will be built by Heron Bros, and marketed by Ryden.
Glasgow City Chambers
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Glasgow’s blueprint to guide the city’s regeneration and development ambitions over the next decade has been unveiled.
The new City Development Plan includes opening up land for over 30,000 new homes, the creation of Economic Development Areas to deliver jobs and growth, supporting the regeneration of the city centre, and progressing Glasgow as the heart of Scotland’s only metropolitan area.
City Development Plan 2 (CDP2) has been given the green light by the Council’s Economy, Housing, Transport and Regeneration Committee. It will now go before the City Administration Committee for approval and will be the subject of public consultation.
Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Convener for Development, Housing and Land Use at Glasgow City Council, said CPD2 was, “vital for attracting investment and development and support the sectors which are key to Glasgow’s continuing economic growth.”
CDP2 provides the long-term framework for the future use of Glasgow’s land and infrastructure, guiding decisions on where development should and should not happen, and ensuring the delivery of quality, accessible and welcoming places across the city.
It includes ‘36 Areas of Change’ across the city with the aim making land available for over 30,000 homes along the River Clyde corridor, north and north-east Glasgow, the reuse of brownfield land for new homes and a River Park along the Clyde.
The plan includes the creation of Economic Development Areas as a focus for business growth and innovation, local town centre regeneration proposals for Drumchapel, Easterhouse, Shawlands and Castlemilk, as well as the City Centre, and delivering on the huge regeneration potential of the River Clyde corridor.
CPD2 also identifies priority areas for expansion in the city centre, alongside public transport and active travel improvements.
Councillor Kelly said: “The new City Development Plan is the roadmap for Glasgow’s future, across the next decade and beyond. It’s the blueprint for boosting our population, building tens of thousands of new homes, readying Glasgow for new employment opportunities, its status as the heart of Scotland’s only metropolis and continuing our world-leading work on the climate emergency.
“Once this draft is approved by Glasgow City Council, we will be seeking input from communities and developers alike to make sure we have a plan that delivers for everyone in the city and prepares us for the decades to come.”
Sectors for economic growth in Glasgow include digital and tech, finance and business services, advanced manufacturing and innovation, space and satellite, life sciences, the creative economy (including live music venues) and tourism – all of which complement the strengths of Glasgow’s higher and further education sector.
Glasgow’s rich architectural heritage is protected and promoted by CDP2’s strong planning policy and guidance relating to listed buildings and Conservation Areas. In addition, CDP2 includes policies encouraging reuse of underused buildings particularly in the city centre and tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, with policies and guidance to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and demonstrates how land use planning can help to address child and family poverty through the promotion of ‘local living’ and active travel, giving communities local access to jobs, shops, greenspace and social facilities.
City Development Plan 2 can be found at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/15290
Glasgow City Council is likely to be the first Scottish local authority to submit its local development plan in this Parliament.
Glasgow Council Leader Susan Aitken
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sarah Hilley
Glasgow city leader Susan Aitken refused to congratulate new Reform MSP Thomas Kerr as she lodged a motion describing his party as racist and far-right.
Early in a speech presenting a motion yesterday she was quick to offer congratulations to SNP MSPs Alex Kerr and Zen Ghani as well as Holly Bruce of the Scottish Greens who are currently acting city councillors alongside Reform’s Kerr.
Accusing Reform election candidates of spouting “racist hate” and “unforgivable actions”, she said: “That is why I withhold my congratulations from councillor Thomas Kerr who was a prominent offender.”
She said: “We don’t reject the people who voted for Reform. They are neighbours, co-workers perhaps even family. For many their vote was a cry of frustration that cannot be ignored. Reform are a symptom of the failures of the British economy and state. But they only offer more pain for ordinary folk and communities.
“We do reject the racist hate spouted by Reform candidates especially in this city. They lied about Glasgow, they scapegoated minority communities. They targeted Glasgow’s children. Their actions are unforgivable.”
Last week’s Holyrood election result saw two two Reform candidates elected to represent the Glasgow city region including Mr Kerr. The Glasgow region is also represented by three Labour and two Scottish Greens MSPs.
Six of the city’s constituencies were won by the SNP while Glasgow southside saw the Greens’ Holly Bruce triumph.
Councillor Aitken made the comments on the election as she presented a motion, which resulted in a composite motion being approved with the Scottish Greens. A Labour amendment was rejected.
The composite motion said: “Council believes that the election result reaffirms Glasgow as an outward-looking, welcoming city, with the share of the vote for right wing and far right parties down from 2021 and that of progressive parties up. Council expresses its deep concern however that, for the first time, MSPs from a racist far-right party, Reform UK, now represent Glasgow and that many Glaswegians will feel fearful and less safe as a result.”
It added: “Council condemns Reform’s purported policy of placing migrant detention camps in Glasgow constituencies which elect progressive representatives, believing this was an attempt to mislead and scare Glaswegians. Council reiterates its unequivocal opposition to the targeting and scapegoating of minority communities, whether they are refugees, migrants or LGBTQ+; rejects UK Reform’s politics of division and hate; and restates our determination that Glasgow be a city built on inclusion and respect, where we stand against discrimination, welcome diversity and work to create a more equal society for all of our residents.”
It said it welcomes the First Minister election pledges to roll out a £2 bus fare cap and treat the Clyde tunnel as a national asset among other measures.
It asks for details on how the Scottish Government will increase the powers and resources available to Glasgow City Council and the chief executive is to write to First Minister John Swinney.
The motion also said “that Glasgow needs considerably improved engagement and support from the UK government on a range of priority issues and hopes that this will be forthcoming now that the election has passed.”
Issues include policies creating “mass homelessness among new refugees” according to the motion.
The council is to write to the Prime Minister asking for engagement on the issues and Glasgow MPs.
Glasgow City Chambers
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
Glasgow City Council has voted against granting the freedom of the city to the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Cllr James Adams, Labour, brought a motion to yesterday’s full council meeting which called for the honour to be granted to mark the 20th anniversary year of the British Army regiment.
But it was defeated by an SNP and Green amendment which stated bestowing the city’s “highest honour” upon an organisation was “inherently problematic”.
It added the move would “tie the City of Glasgow in perpetuity to another organisation over which it has no control or oversight”.
The amendment stated the decision was “not a reflection of the Royal Regiment of Scotland or the personnel who serve as part of it”.
After the meeting, Cllr Adams said it was “frankly shameful” that the SNP and Greens had blocked his proposal. “More than 20 councils across Scotland, including Edinburgh and Aberdeen, have already conferred this honour.
“Glasgow now stands out for all the wrong reasons.”
The motion suggested a ceremony should be organised to confer the freedom of the city of Glasgow upon the royal regiment in “recognition of its historic ties, valued community engagement, and distinguished service”.
It added the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which was formed in March 2006, draws on “more than 390 years of continuous service through its antecedent regiments, including the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment)”.
In a speech, Cllr Adams said: “It is important to recognise the service across decades of the regiment and its antecedents who have served at home and overseas with professionalism and dedication.
“That service has come with real sacrifice, since its formation, 23 servicemen have given up their lives for our protection. Many have also suffered life-changing injuries.
“As a city, it is right that we acknowledge that and express our gratitude to those who have served and to those who continue to serve.”
Bailie Norman MacLeod, SNP, said Cllr Adams should have consulted with the Lord Provost and Cllr Abdul Bostani, SNP, the council’s champion for the armed forces, before bringing the motion.
He added: “If we are going to start celebrating, then I would look forward to the reformation of one or many of the ancient Scottish regiments. All of which were destroyed by the UK Ministry of Defence.
“I look forward to some of these regiments being recreated as part of the defence forces, both to defend our country and to help the world in a peacekeeping role from an independent Scotland. That would be something to celebrate.”
Cllr Declan Blench, SNP, said he didn’t think it was “appropriate to confer our city’s highest honours on groups rather than individuals”. “I think that risks making us hostage to fortune.”
He then suggested armed forces personnel are “being let down by the UK Government” and are “subject to the same pay restraint as other public servants but unable to properly voice their concerns”.
Cllr Blench said 90% of Denmark’s armed forces personnel belong to a body which allows them to negotiate salaries, pensions and redundancies.
“This is a model the SNP has long endorsed and it is something Labour used to endorse but has been noticeably absent from recent manifestos,” he added.
“It’s baffling to me that the party of workers doesn’t want to improve the lot of working class public sector workers.
At the end of the debate, Cllr Adams said representations had been made to the Lord Provost’s office but “essentially we have ended up having to do a motion to have it discussed”.
He said the “reason given about individuals… doesn’t really hold any water, we’ve done it several times before”.
There were 28 votes for the motion and 32 for a composite SNP/Green amendment.
The amendment stated the council “regrets the amalgamation” of historic regiments as “a result of austerity measures at the time”.
It also acknowledged the “long and distinguished record of service of the regiment and its antecedents”, noting some soldiers have suffered loss of life or life-changing injuries and their experiences may have resulted in PTSD, complex trauma, mental ill-health and addictions.
The council hopes to work with the regiment to “acknowledge this milestone in a more appropriate way”.
The Argyle Street East Avenue will see the introduction of high-quality public spaces along a key retail street in the city centre (credit: Glasgow Council)
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The next stage in the £140million-plus transformation of Glasgow’s key city centre streets gets underway next month.
Work on the Argyle Street East Avenue will begin on 16 June, with the programme including the redesign and expansion of pavement areas, the creation of new public and green spaces, and the resurfacing of roads and cycle lanes.
Extending from Central Station to just beyond Glasgow Cross, the Argyle East Avenue will be delivered in four individual and phased sections along the one-kilometre route.
The works get underway as the renewal of several streets which are part of the biggest transformation of the city centre since the 1970s conclude or are scheduled for completion.
The Cowcaddens Road and Dobbie’s Loan Avenue at Glasgow Caledonian University and Buchanan Street Bus Station opens next week, while the progress of the redevelopment of George Square will see the road on the north side of the square reopen in early June.
Meanwhile, the Argyle West Avenue has accelerated over recent weeks, with the final stages of works to roads and pavements underway. Running from the Kingston Bridge to Central Station, Argyle West has encountered delays due to the impact of the Union Street fire and Scottish Water repairs but is now on schedule to be largely concluded by early June.
Councillor Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: “Argyle Street, Trongate and Glasgow Cross are such historic parts of town which have resonated with Glaswegians over generations. But they’ve undeniably endured decades of decline.
“This investment is about revitalising these famous streets, complementing the hundreds of millions of pounds of development which is emerging in the area and giving real confidence to this part of the city.
“The Avenues programme is creating more attractive places for everyone who lives, works and visits the city centre. We’re making sure Argyle Street, Trongate and Glasgow Cross are absolutely part of that.”
The first phase of the Argyle East Avenue to get underway will stretch from the junction with Queen Street to Stockwell Street, followed by the Four Corners area to Queen Street, and then Trongate to Glasgow Cross and onto Moir Street on the Gallowgate.
With the final phases scheduled for completion by June 2029, the works also include the installation of a new west-to-east bus route passing through the current pedestrian precinct, reducing journey times and improving public transport connections. The move has been welcomed by passenger groups, business leaders and transport operators.
A public engagement event on the Argyle East and Stockwell Street Avenues will take place at the St Enoch Centre between 11am – 3pm on 20 May.
Councillor Millar added: “As with all major infrastructure projects, some disruption is inevitable. The phased approach to construction should go some way to minimising that and we’ll make sure the public and our partners are kept up to date with where the works might impact on them.
“Glaswegians can be confident however that the Avenues and George Square redevelopment will deliver a city centre we can all be proud of – and we’ll continue to see that emerging in the weeks ahead.”
The latest information on the Avenues programme – the biggest of its kind in the UK, and funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal – is available at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/avenues
Glasgow City Chambers
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sarah Hilley
The council will look at more pedestrianisation of Glasgow city centre as Queen Street sees a new decking-type walkway added.
Work has been taking place on the major road as well as Ingram Street to create more room for people walking and add planting and greenery.
A new wooden walkway running alongside the pavement in Queen Street has been installed with planters and seating also in place as part of the temporary trial.
The city’s convenor for climate transport and city centre recovery Angus Millar highlighted the ‘People First Zone development’ at a council meeting in response to a question from councillor Christy Mearns about developing pedestrianisation plans.
Councillor Millar said: “The council is continuing to progress various projects to create more space for pedestrians.”
He pointed out the ongoing work on Queen Street and Ingram Street with new tactile surfaces and planting being installed. Bus gates are also being rolled out and 13 street trees will be planted in large stone containers while a number of parking spaces are being removed.
The People First Zone changes are being introduced on a trial basis to monitor the impact of the scheme and public feedback is due to shape the final designs.
The SNP’s Councillor Millar told this morning’s full council meeting this morning that the trees are to be planted in June on the routes and referred to the installation of Avenues as well as an example of bids to boost space for pedestrians.
Scottish Greens councillor Mearns asked for details to be shared of what other streets are “feasible for pedestrianisation” work in the city centre and said there has been little progress.
Councillor Millar said “considerable public realm work” is being carried out in the city centre – and said it was about allowing that to “bed in while looking at other options”.
The matter was discussed in response to a question submitted by Councillor Mearns asking for an “update on developing plans for pedestrianising the city centre”.
Coatbridge Town Centre
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Plans to transform Coatbridge through a £19.5 million regeneration programme have been approved by the UK Government, marking a major milestone for the town’s future.
Coatbridge has been allocated £19.5m over a 10-year period as part of the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme. A Regeneration Plan and initial four-year investment plan has been prepared, based on feedback from local people on their priorities for the town. These plans have now been approved by the UK Government, releasing the first £6.6m allocation of funding for Coatbridge.
The decision will support a 10-year programme of spending aimed at boosting opportunities for young people, revitalising key attractions and creating a safer, more welcoming town centre. An independent Coatbridge Neighbourhood Board is in place, who will work with North Lanarkshire Council to deliver the programme.
Gavin Whitefield, Chair of the Coatbridge Neighbourhood Board said: “This is a significant milestone for Coatbridge and a testament to the dedication of local people who helped shape this plan.
“Over the past two years, the community has told us clearly what matters most — from opportunities for young people to the future of the town centre — and this investment allows us to start delivering on those priorities.
“We are now focused on turning these plans into tangible improvements that people will begin to see over the coming months and years.”
Early progress is already being made, with a community-led town centre Spring- clean event held in April. The initiative brought together local residents, volunteers and partners to refresh planters in the town centre and carrying out litter-picking, demonstrating the strong local commitment that underpins the Regeneration Plan.
As part of the first phase of delivery, a Coatbridge Community Empowerment Grant Fund has been launched this week, providing funding opportunities for local groups who want to lead projects and activities in their neighbourhoods. Further small grant programmes are planned for later this summer.
For details of the grants visit: Coatbridge Pride in Place | North Lanarkshire Council
The Coatbridge Neighbourhood Board are planning to launch a website soon, where more information on projects and how to get involved will be available.
