Glasgow will walk tall among Scotland’s cities
Consultation ensures new high rise buildings don’t wreck cityscape
The Public Consultation on regulating the development of tall buildings in Glasgow ended on 30 September 2024, allowing the public to voice their opinions on the draft Tall Building Design Guide created in response to the increasing number of tall buildings being built and planned for the centre of Scotland’s largest city.
Stakeholders from various sectors, including healthcare (GP surgeries), Education (schools) and Transportation provided input, alongside technical experts on design and environmental concerns.
Glasgow, already home to nearly half of Scotland's high-rise buildings, is preparing for more developments (including The Ard, where consent was granted for student accommodation over 36 floors and reaching a height of 374 feet), prompting city planners to conduct a comprehensive overview of the city’s vertical layout. Results of the consultation will shape future tall building applications, with priority given to buildings that are located and designed in the best way for the city.
As the consultation period came to a close, Glasgow also celebrated its 35th annual Doors Open Day Festival, offering access to explore over 100 city buildings. This initiative mirrored the tall buildings consultation, encouraging public engagement in shaping the city's future. One wonders, however, just how such a consultation would go today between architects of the past like Charles Rennie Macintosh in the 19th century and a modern celebrity “star-chitect”?
Preservation of the city’s heritage and conservation areas are high on the agenda, reflecting the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Glasgow Central Conservation Area. The adoption of the Guide seeks to ensure that approved tall buildings enhance the city's skyline, blending harmoniously with the surroundings and enhancing placemaking efforts. As Glasgow evolves, its historic Gothic cathedrals may in fact soon share the spotlight with the landmarks of tomorrow.
Glasgow's unique blend of tradition and innovation shines through its iconic landmarks, like the Duke of Wellington statue in George Square with its orange and white striped cone-hat! As the city evolves, ensuring that infrastructure can support growth – and that environmental concerns like pollution, sustainability, noise, light and adverse wind effects are addressed – will be crucial.
Shifts in how we work and shop have changed significantly, prompting the need for city planners to have access to clear development frameworks and parameters to stimulate investment in the city.
An outlier during the pandemic, unlike many cities, Glasgow saw a surge in interest in urban living, reflecting a trend towards shorter commutes and sustainable lifestyles among the younger population.
With interest in city living now at its highest in years, careful management of the city’s re-densification is vital to ensuring Glasgow continues to attract residents. Developers and investors will benefit from carefully considered guidance and parameters at the planning pre-application stage.
Remember, a city's beauty can have an enormous impact on its reputation and is a powerful draw for both residents and visitors alike. Glasgow’s identity may be synonymous with its people and culture, but its aesthetics are also important in promoting the city.
Amy Watson is a lawyer in DLA Piper’s Real Estate practice in Scotland