Glasgow City Council has agreed a new policy on the design of tall buildings, saying where it will support the development of skyscrapers in the city, one of the UK's Big Six office markets.
The Tall Buildings Design Guide for Glasgow also outlines expectations on build quality, design and aesthetics and includes guidance around encouraging mixed-use developments, such as the inclusion of street-level retail and leisure. Areas in Glasgow city centre which could see more tall buildings include Charing Cross, Anderston Quay, Trongate and Cowcaddens.
The council said in a statement that the guidance is a significant change from the past number of decades where buildings have been capped well below what might be expected in a city of Glasgow's size and growing international profile. It says Glasgow is unique among Scottish cities in having the scope to build upwards and, shaped by the Tall Buildings guidance, the council is aiming for the "kind of city centre population density that's commonplace in European cities".
The guidance was shaped by initial consultation sessions, attended by architects, designers, developers and amenity organisations, and a later public consultation that drew over 270 responses. The guidance will be a key factor in the determination of planning applications.
This will now go to the council's City Administration Committee for final approval, when a final version will be available.
Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for development and land yse at Glasgow City Council, said in a statement: "Tall buildings will play a significant role in our ambition to grow the city centre population and encouraging major construction projects will be a boost for the local economy and employment. Having clear parameters of what we will support, and where, will give clarity to residents and assurances to those who wish to invest and develop in our city. Glasgow is very much open for business, and if we want to see a thriving city then we need to build it."
Last year the council approved Watkin Jones's plans for a 784-student accommodation development, The Ard, that will be the city’s “second-tallest structure”.
Leading Scottish offices adviser Andy Cunningham, co-founder of MC2, said: "We welcome the ambition being shown by the council; it's exactly this type of initiative which will hopefully bring forward investors to our city. Compared to other regional cities, Glasgow offers scale and a demographic profile which will be high up on developer's target lists."