Stalled Glasgow Jumeriah vision makes way for 280,000sq/ft office block
February 27 2018
The 0.79-acre city centre site, two blocks down from Central Station, is bounded by Robertson and York Street with Cooper Cromar tasked with working up designs for a headquarters development that would entail demolition of all existing properties.
Vanguard director Conor Osborne said: “We believe this is one of the best undeveloped opportunities in Scotland - and are looking forward to working with the council to deliver a forward-thinking office scheme. It will provide a competitive edge for the City, giving Glasgow a high-calibre development to attract blue-chip occupiers, and demonstrate the city is ready to support inward investment.
“As considerate developers, we fully appreciate the challenge of building within the city’s historic environment. Our team of professionals has been chosen for their skills in understanding such places and posing alternatives where we believe that these are justified. Our proposals will be explored fully by our team in their consultations with Glasgow City Council, Historic Environment Scotland and the wider city community.”
A community consultation is now underway to progress these early plans prior to submission of a full planning application in the spring, informed by a number of economic and heritage studies being conducted in tandem.
Vanguard have already served notice of their intent to demolish three ‘obsolete’ buildings on the site, including B and C-listed tenements classed as being in ‘fair’ condition on the Buildings at Risk Register.
A podium element will respect the datum of neighbours
A tower element could reach up to 14 storeys in height
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20 Comments
#1 Posted by Sue Pearman on 27 Feb 2018 at 17:46 PM
Jeezo that's a monster!...I like how the renders conceal the overshading by making the sun come from the north...
#2 Posted by Pete on 27 Feb 2018 at 18:20 PM
This can’t be allowed! There is a beautiful tenement on this site that surely can be saved and refurbed?! Why can’t they build this on one of the many vacant sites that there are across the city?!?!
#3 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 27 Feb 2018 at 18:43 PM
I wonder which government department has agreed to be the anchor tenant. Why is it that the taxpayers have to pay top dollar for these premises when less expensive but more than adequate accommodation is available. ?
#4 Posted by Billy on 27 Feb 2018 at 18:44 PM
Yawn. 14 stories. Why bother? The original was going to be much taller. This city of low rises is becoming rather boring. We are going to have the dullest skyline of any major British city. What is wrong with height?
#5 Posted by Ross on 27 Feb 2018 at 21:35 PM
I am in favour of this development. West end Argyle Street is still an edgy, shady part of town. It needs big, bold, bright lights and people to bring it back to life. This is an ideal hotel quarter for the city, so let more and more pour in and fill up the empty blocks of land.
And I like the design!
And I like the design!
#6 Posted by George on 28 Feb 2018 at 09:10 AM
Excellent news and looks a good development which is sorely needed for this part of Glasgow, where too many gap sites have been sitting for too long.
#2 I'm all for preserving Glasgow's heritage but "beautiful tenement" is maybe not quite fitting of the terrible eyesore which adorns this site currently. Get this built!
#2 I'm all for preserving Glasgow's heritage but "beautiful tenement" is maybe not quite fitting of the terrible eyesore which adorns this site currently. Get this built!
#7 Posted by David on 28 Feb 2018 at 09:53 AM
Ross #5 this is an office block, not a hotel...and it's a shocker, particularly the upper levels.
#8 Posted by Sir Ano on 28 Feb 2018 at 10:17 AM
Great to see the site moving forward but this is Horrendous.
#9 Posted by Pete on 28 Feb 2018 at 11:14 AM
@ #6 - how is this not beautiful?
https://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/search/planning_authority/189/p/7/event_id/907566/building_name/335-345-argyle-street-city-centre
There are a lot of ugly buildings on Argyle Street but this is not one of them.
https://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/search/planning_authority/189/p/7/event_id/907566/building_name/335-345-argyle-street-city-centre
There are a lot of ugly buildings on Argyle Street but this is not one of them.
#10 Posted by Pablo on 28 Feb 2018 at 13:09 PM
Doesn't look the worst and would revitalise the area, but comes at an unacceptable cost. Facade retention of the Third Republic style building mentioned in post #9 should be a minimum requirement. Disgusting that it's being demolished.
Where is the SNP's city City Architect when you need them? Looks like the city's heritage is at the same risk as it was when Labour was in control.
Where is the SNP's city City Architect when you need them? Looks like the city's heritage is at the same risk as it was when Labour was in control.
#11 Posted by Sven on 28 Feb 2018 at 14:09 PM
"Doesn't look the worst and would revitalise the area, but comes at an unacceptable cost. Facade retention of the Third Republic style building mentioned in post #9 should be a minimum requirement. Disgusting that it's being demolished. "
+1 - totally agree with this. The other buildings could and should be demolished.
+1 - totally agree with this. The other buildings could and should be demolished.
#12 Posted by E=mc2 on 28 Feb 2018 at 18:27 PM
At least they have retained the facade retention structure as part of the design.
#13 Posted by Don Diamante on 1 Mar 2018 at 10:34 AM
What's the point in listing a building then allowing it to be demolished due to poor maintenance.
Facade retention is the absolute minimum requirement here, but I think to lose the dormers and box-mansard end-bays would also be a travesty.
Demolish the rest, a good architect can surely make that work, and I'm normally impressed with Cooper Cromar's work in regeneration areas.
Facade retention is the absolute minimum requirement here, but I think to lose the dormers and box-mansard end-bays would also be a travesty.
Demolish the rest, a good architect can surely make that work, and I'm normally impressed with Cooper Cromar's work in regeneration areas.
#14 Posted by Charlie_ on 1 Mar 2018 at 11:16 AM
I agree with Pablo word for word.
#15 Posted by D to the R on 2 Mar 2018 at 12:20 PM
I get it ... heritage ... context ... all that stuff but come on ... how many of you will be turning this sort of stuff down when the next recession comes ... pretty sure you'd be desperate for something of this value regardless of it's architectural merit.
#16 Posted by MoFloGoGo on 2 Mar 2018 at 14:41 PM
This represents a new low point for the city and we'd all better get used to it. Goodbye Custom House, Egyptian Halls, James Watt Street, Lion Chambers. Goodbye to you all.
I had hoped a change at the City Chambers might herald a change of attitude towards our heritage but apparently not - money trumps all else. This'll get waved through planning with a nod and a wink - guaranteed!
I had hoped a change at the City Chambers might herald a change of attitude towards our heritage but apparently not - money trumps all else. This'll get waved through planning with a nod and a wink - guaranteed!
#17 Posted by gaypawel on 3 Mar 2018 at 23:52 PM
I love it. the steel work need to be red to match the red sandstone and the traditional use of red coloured steel.
#18 Posted by Glen Ferguson on 5 Mar 2018 at 11:02 AM
Absolutely love this. the Financial district is fairly getting invested with Cadogan street, York St, Argyle st, Bothwell st all got things planned and approved.
#19 Posted by Walt Disney on 12 Mar 2018 at 16:29 PM
I worked at the bottom of Robertson Street for years. If you walked up to Argyle Street there was nothing to the West except derelict shops and tenements with trees growing out of them. Not what you would expect from one of the gateways into the city centre. This would be a fantastic contribution to the city.
#20 Posted by Terra on 17 Apr 2018 at 07:10 AM
I also agree with Pablo. the current tenement building is gorgeous and there has to be a commitment to retention of its character.
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