Glasgow’s £220m Washington Exchange development launched
October 24 2013
Subject to a pre-let this would see a showpiece 500,000 sq/ft mixed use development built between Washington Street and McAlpine Street within Glasgow’s International Financial Services District in a number of phases.
Outline consent allows for a showpiece tower of up to 17 storeys at 65 Washington Street and a range of possible uses including a hotel, offices, leisure facilities and new homes.
Enjoying 70m of frontage onto the river Clyde the 1.69 acre site has previously received planning consent for 250,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, 20,000 sq ft of retail space and 25 residential apartments valued at £100m.
Patsy Hyslop, marketing director of Marlebone, said: “It is clear there remains a shortage of Grade A office space in Glasgow city centre and Washington Exchange can go some way towards addressing that.
“We have been working tremendously hard with our partners at Scottish Enterprise over a period of many months to ensure the site can be offered to potential occupiers, particularly those who would benefit from locating within the International Financial Services District.
“We are committed to making this project a success and have already been in discussions with parties interested in working with us to create a stunning development which will become a landmark location for Glasgow.”
Negotiations for funding are currently underway and a shortlist of developers has been drawn up.
Images at this stage are purely indicative
Project backers are currently in talks with The Rise Group, a property management company
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10 Comments
#1 Posted by Richard Heggie on 24 Oct 2013 at 12:39 PM
Is it just me or is the scale looking odd in these (sparse) visualisations? In the second image, will the person in the green jumper to the left of the entrance be able to get through the front door without ducking? Those two beyond on the corner look like they could pick up the minibus next to them and dump it in the Clyde.
#2 Posted by Sir ano on 24 Oct 2013 at 13:33 PM
Just what Glasgow needs more empty of space.
#3 Posted by Teacakeman on 24 Oct 2013 at 14:51 PM
What exactly are these illustrations indicative of? That there will be buildings, that they will be big buildings, or that the buildings will be big glass boxes? At least these impressions don't include the patronising images of hot air balloons so favoured by developers in the 90s, but these drawings are impressive.
#4 Posted by Neil C on 24 Oct 2013 at 15:50 PM
Much as I hate to say it, given the urgent need to fill the gaping holes around the Kingston Bridge, this looks like more pie in the sky. As the article states, there have been loads of speculative plans for this site that never got off the drawing board, so I'm not optimistic about this one materialising.
#5 Posted by Here's Johnny on 24 Oct 2013 at 17:49 PM
christ! the comments section in this site is really embarrassing and negative at times. where you getting them from? how many renders do you see that are off scale or bit odd at times, tons. if a building of this scale and size got built in this barren bit of land, i would be delighted.
#6 Posted by Partick Bateman on 25 Oct 2013 at 08:39 AM
Well I think this looks wonderful.
#7 Posted by Stephen on 28 Oct 2013 at 13:36 PM
Sorry for being negative but I really can't get excited about more cheap looking office buildings on what should be one of Glasgow's best sites. Why anyone would think it appropriate to build that high on the North side of a river when buildings behind are then dwarfed and in shadow is beyond me; but I guess that's the fault of the planners, not the developers or architects.
The North side of the river represents an incredible opportunity for the City to embrace the river on which currently its back is completely turned. Great orientation for the sun, fantastic sunsets down the Clyde, promenades, cycle routes, city living, potential access to the water etc. Instead, all we get is a swathe of 12 (and now 17!!) storey call-centres and a four lane road. Barely any life between 9 & 5 and none beyond it. Shambles.
Oh, and why does the proposal look like it's 4 different buildings mashed together by 4 different architects? Bit of a dogs breakfast.
The North side of the river represents an incredible opportunity for the City to embrace the river on which currently its back is completely turned. Great orientation for the sun, fantastic sunsets down the Clyde, promenades, cycle routes, city living, potential access to the water etc. Instead, all we get is a swathe of 12 (and now 17!!) storey call-centres and a four lane road. Barely any life between 9 & 5 and none beyond it. Shambles.
Oh, and why does the proposal look like it's 4 different buildings mashed together by 4 different architects? Bit of a dogs breakfast.
#8 Posted by Stevie Wonder on 29 Oct 2013 at 13:48 PM
Looks great to me.
#9 Posted by Flint on 30 Oct 2013 at 12:32 PM
Stephen is absolutely correct. The schemes consented and proposed for the north side of the river show a complete lack of understanding of urban design and of masterplans delivered successfully elsewhere in Europe that connect meaningfully with a river. The recently consented scheme for Custom House similarly demonstrates how not to connect river with city, and in that case made more acute by a complete lack of reference to scale and context.
#10 Posted by Mr. Bob on 10 Nov 2013 at 17:50 PM
What contribution does this building make to glasgow or to the riverfront?
NONE
On it's own sure, it's a nice building, but if the entire river gets developed in this fashion (which it kind of sort of is), we all will be left scarred with a completely dead waterfront that is worth billions of pounds.
Go to any other major city in the world- at lunchtime or after work, the streets are flooded with workers. What happens on broomielaw? Nothing. Buildings like this are insular modules with underground parking, no amenities, no links to public transportation, no pubs, not even a nearby restaurant, that prevent any sort of improvement along the water front and for all of you that are giving a thumbs up to this project, think again because we are all just shooting ourselves in the foot gawking at 220m scars ... a little foresight people, please.
NONE
On it's own sure, it's a nice building, but if the entire river gets developed in this fashion (which it kind of sort of is), we all will be left scarred with a completely dead waterfront that is worth billions of pounds.
Go to any other major city in the world- at lunchtime or after work, the streets are flooded with workers. What happens on broomielaw? Nothing. Buildings like this are insular modules with underground parking, no amenities, no links to public transportation, no pubs, not even a nearby restaurant, that prevent any sort of improvement along the water front and for all of you that are giving a thumbs up to this project, think again because we are all just shooting ourselves in the foot gawking at 220m scars ... a little foresight people, please.
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