Thursday June 11th 2026
Springburn Library
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
Talks over the sale of the former Springburn library to a housing association have been given the go ahead.
Glasgow City Council is considering selling the B-listed library on Ayr Street to NG Homes, which intends to restore public access.
Councillors agreed today (Thursday) that off-market negotiations over the future of the building could begin.
Officials reported the housing association wants to “acquire the property to deliver economic and social opportunities for the community”. The project could see office space provided to a “local social initiative”.
The council is “keen to ensure the future purposeful use of the building and minimise holding costs on an empty property”, a report added.
Progress on the proposal had been paused while interest in the building from other community groups was investigated.
However, the council has ruled they are “unlikely to meet the requirements” of the People Make Glasgow Communities programme, a scheme which allows local organisations to take over the management of venues.
Cllr Thomas Rannachan, Labour, who represents Springburn, said a social landlord or “someone with deep pockets” is needed to repair the building.
He added NG Homes are “looking to let the community utilise space within the property” and said he would be “making sure that NG do fulfil that promise”.
Built in 1904, the library was most recently leased to the council’s arms-length company Jobs & Business Glasgow but that has now expired.
A council report added NG Homes would “seek to improve and grow the property as a positive social and economic asset within Springburn and the wider community”.
It added: “Together with the reintroduction of public access, the building will include communal areas like a ‘warm space’ drop-in and support multi-cultural, cross-generational projects and the provision of an event space for local external groups.
“NG Homes has repeatedly shown success in community regeneration, earning recognition from funders, stakeholders, and residents for their collaborative and innovative programs.”
Bailie Anthony Carroll, Greens, asked officials whether the council was willing to work with community groups to provide access while negotiations are ongoing.
An official said access was being allowed for an event this weekend. She added: “In terms of longer term use, I think it would be difficult to give a guarantee that every single occasion that we could satisfy that, but we would be speaking with groups on an individual basis.”
It is hoped that negotiations “wouldn’t take too long”, the official added. “I can say that NG Homes are keen to get in and get involved. I think they’ve got quite a lot of plans that they would like to implement.”
Community involvement will be discussed further during the negotiations, she said.
After the meeting, Cllr Ruairi Kelly, SNP, city convener for development, said the start of negotiations offers “the chance for new and productive uses for the building, and a number of valuable new services available there for the local community”.
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