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Tradeston high-rise’s point way to new city quarter

Tradeston high-rise’s point way to new city quarter

October 23 2017

Drum Group have revealed their vision for a £350m mixed use scheme on the Clyde waterfront at Tradeston, the latest addition to its burgeoning development pipeline.

Buchanan Wharf will constitute a ‘new and distinctive quarter’ for Glasgow offering 1,000,000sq/ft of office accommodation, 350 flats and a 150-bed hotel rising above a ground floor given over to cafes, restaurants, a crèche, ‘touch down areas’ and creative spaces.

In a statement Drum wrote: “Delivering a high-quality blend of services will be integral to the development. In addition to the high-class amenities and multi-use event areas, an integrated management service will be introduced by Drum, delivering building and site-wide facilities, event and travel management, to ensure residents services are tailored to their requirements, and occupier businesses run safely, sustainably and smoothly.

“The aim is to provide a safe, clean, attractive and stimulating environment, in which residents enjoy a stimulating community, business can thrive, and colleagues can interact professionally, productively and socially.

“This ambitious and dynamic place making is intended to resolve the poor connectivity and linkages between the city centre and the South side of the river and to activate over a quarter of a mile of river frontage in one of the UK’s most aspirational cities.”

Drum has spent recent years bringing complex land ownership rights in the area under its control, attaining planning permission in principle for a Stallan-Brand masterplan in January.

35 Comments

#1 Posted by David on 23 Oct 2017 at 15:06 PM

Absolutely love this! Perfect scaling (it could have even gone a little taller) and so glad to see it will be mixed use; 350 flats should give the area a population increase of 500-700, which, in conjunction with the people coming into the area to work, should kickstart the wider regeneration of this neighbourhood; it has some beautiful Victorian warehouses that would make terrific loft style flats or studio spaces.

#2 Posted by Charlie_ on 23 Oct 2017 at 15:20 PM

i hate to be the skeptic but just how many, far more modest, consented office schemes in more marketable locations are developers sitting on in this city right now? The chances of a 1m sq/f development going ahead, in anything but on a many-decade, phased Timetable seem pretty close to nil.

#3 Posted by Mark on 23 Oct 2017 at 17:50 PM

This looks fantastic. Exactly what the Clyde needs. Would be great to see more imagery and detailed plans. Would also be good to know at what stage of planning and permission this is actually at... If they've secured all the in-principle approvals and own the land (as their PR releases seem to suggest) then it might be sooner than you'd think.

#4 Posted by Sven on 23 Oct 2017 at 19:55 PM

The design is compelling and will work well in that location. The business side of me wonders if there is demand for 1msqft of office space in Glasgow? I doubt it.

#5 Posted by David on 23 Oct 2017 at 20:16 PM

1million sqft is just around 92,000sq metres. That would be 92 medium sized companies taking a let of 1000 square metres each. Central Glasgow is the only place in Scotland where there would be that kind of demand for office space. I'd say I have more confidence in this proposal than others currently in the pipeline; Drum are probably in the best position financially of the biggest UK developers, what a pity that they aren't behind the Canderiggs quarter too.

#6 Posted by Billy on 23 Oct 2017 at 20:41 PM

A bit higher would be nice. However it is great to see this prime site being developed and so close to city centre. Let’s hope it does happen as the Trongate development seems to be at a standstill the last time I was in that area.

#7 Posted by E=mc2 on 23 Oct 2017 at 20:55 PM

Would like to see the site plan and public realm proposals. Probably needs another pedestrian bridge to strengthen connections to the city centre

#8 Posted by Glen Ferguson on 24 Oct 2017 at 08:38 AM

Absolutely Love this! it's what Glasgow needs on such a prime site. Now time to sort out the rest of tradeston and we would be onto a winner.

#9 Posted by Johnny on 24 Oct 2017 at 08:48 AM

If its where I think this is being sited, between the Kingston bridge and Central Station then it would not need a bridge. The squinty/squiggly bridges are already there.

#10 Posted by Charlie_ on 24 Oct 2017 at 10:03 AM

@David, a new build speculative build hasn't broken ground in the inner city for about 4 years and that was less than 1/6th the size of this, before you add the residential, hotel and retail components. This is the pork pie in the sky when we die, im afraid.

#11 Posted by Billy on 24 Oct 2017 at 10:20 AM

Does anyone know if the Candleriggs project or the two hotels in St Enoch Sq are going ahead? I notice that the Hootenanny has an extended seating area where the proposed hotel should be and that slum of a building that was a supermarket is still standing where the other proposed hotel should be.

#12 Posted by Gandalf the Pink on 24 Oct 2017 at 10:27 AM

If this actually goes into construction I'll take a cup full of the Clyde and drink it.

#13 Posted by Haw Maw on 24 Oct 2017 at 10:49 AM

Edinburgh have made huge success from Quartermile, why not this in Glasgow?

#14 Posted by Jamie on 24 Oct 2017 at 10:53 AM

Where was this announced/released, UR? Can't find anything elsewhere about the announcement...

#15 Posted by David on 24 Oct 2017 at 11:40 AM

@charlie, People said the same thing in the 80s/90s prior to the development of the IFSD which has been a success, and there have been several high profile companies looking for space in central Glasgow to set up medium-large operations who cannot find suitable premises due to the city's shortage of grade A office accommodation.

#16 Posted by George on 24 Oct 2017 at 11:41 AM

Looks like a great development and just what Glasgow needs just now as there is a real lack of new build investment in the city centre just now, so this would be a perfect shot in the arm. However we do need to see this actually happen as there have been plenty of speculative schemes mooted along the Clyde that haven't happened so lets get this done. Whilst we are at it please make sure the finished result looks something like the images above rather than a cheaper, smaller, dulled down value-engineered version.

#17 Posted by Ian on 24 Oct 2017 at 12:11 PM

I just hope this goes ahead. Also impressed with the comments especially as there are times when so many people contributing seem to be 'taking the piss' or am I missing something.

#18 Posted by UR on 24 Oct 2017 at 15:00 PM

Drum Property are marketing it now @Jamie:
http://www.drumpropertygroup.com/development/buchanan-wharf-a-new-city-centre-quarter/

Application for PiP:
https://publicaccess.glasgow.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=ODWXZ4EXG9B00

#19 Posted by Charlie_ on 24 Oct 2017 at 16:02 PM

@david, yes and 20+ years into the IFSD project the largest office yet built is ~200k sq/f and half of the area is still derelict or semi derelict. This might've been viable had HMRC chosen it for both tranches of its relocation but that boat seems to have sailed atlantic square's way.

#20 Posted by MV on 24 Oct 2017 at 16:21 PM

The regeneration of this area would obviously be fantastic. I understand the comment about smaller Glasgow speculative schemes not getting off the ground, but I really believe if you can find the finance to build it - people will occupy it. Bringing that amount of footfall to this area could genuinely be a game changer, not just for Tradeston - but for Glasgow generally. It has what Edinburgh does not have - SPACE.

However (and I'm sorry #17) perhaps its the lack of existing context - but why are the buildings all winky wonky? They are neither "object buildings" nor a "more traditional" approach to "architecture". Perhaps its just the visual, but Glasgow needs to aspire to grow a quality of architecture beyond what is shown in the proposals here.

Finally... it could definitely go higher!!

#21 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 24 Oct 2017 at 17:10 PM

Am enjoying the positivity here - it seems a lot of people ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!
Just think what it'll be like when the Drum PR machine kicks in and we start seeing comments from their own people.

#22 Posted by dave the detailer on 24 Oct 2017 at 21:45 PM

#11 apparently the site of the old supermarket is almost ready to go. Expect the 'journos' at the evening times will have a feature on the unfortunate charity being forced to move any day now.

#23 Posted by Egbert on 25 Oct 2017 at 10:41 AM

@UR ahem... apostrophe alert #pedantry

#24 Posted by Glasgow Developer on 25 Oct 2017 at 12:33 PM

Great PR stint from the Drum boys how much did you pay the staff to add the comments ??
"cash and carry wharf" ,.........looks ....well a bit disjointed like my kids lego buildings..good luck

#25 Posted by Derek Wilson on 25 Oct 2017 at 14:07 PM

Thinking about all that office space filled. Great. But if we dont sort out how to allow 1000s of people to walk from Central and Queen St down to and across the Clyde, it wont work for the benefit of the city.

#26 Posted by BenghaziBoy on 25 Oct 2017 at 16:14 PM

I'm flabberghasted. In fact my flabber has never been more ghasted. Tradeston has been desolate for many years and will remain so until at least 2030. Who in theor right mind would sign up to office space there in an oasis of wasteland where Spaghetti westerns could be shot.Cheap suits, imported childrens clothes and cash n carry's have dominated Tradeston for 40 years so how does this reformation work ? The 'affluent' side of the Clyde has been a blight for decades and is still undergoing its transition so good luck Drum on bringing this vision to Tradeston. I'll take extra salad with my meal. thank you

Not fooled by this stunt

#27 Posted by Terra on 27 Nov 2017 at 11:26 AM

Totally agree with comment #1. I really like the look of this, and going a bit taller is a good shout.

#28 Posted by Billy on 28 Mar 2018 at 14:11 PM

All quiet on this one too. Is it going ahead or not? Does anyone know? No doubt a two storey glass fronted box will appear after years of what shall be approve for this prime site on the Clyde? Our competitors would not be so slow. Glasgow could lose out to Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh if it doesn’t get its act together. Early bird catches the worm......Glasgow appearing like a lunch time feeder.

#29 Posted by Billy on 27 Jun 2018 at 22:22 PM

Now this was more like it. Why the change to the scaled down boring proposal? This is far more impressive entrance to our city for train and air passengers sandwiched between the two gateways central bridge and Kingston Bridge.,

#30 Posted by Sohail Jafar on 30 Jun 2018 at 12:39 PM

Why is this not the final design? If anything, designs and plans that are to be revolved should be going up in height not sheltered down. The new plan looks uninspiring! :(

#31 Posted by Terra on 30 Jun 2018 at 19:01 PM

This should be the design.

#32 Posted by Ronaldo reality on 30 Jun 2018 at 21:16 PM

#31 true. But back on planet earth you'll find that developers don't want to go down that route. What to do....

#33 Posted by John Brand on 3 Jul 2018 at 16:56 PM

The development looks disjointed with a weak central block compared with the two outer blocks this development would add to the already disordered Glasgow riverscape.