Glasgow councillors are expected to support a plan to pump almost £300,000 into footpath improvements on one of the city’s main streets.
City chiefs can approve the use of the money on Sauchiehall Street , as part of the ongoing Avenues programme, when they meet on Thursday.
It has been generated from developer contributions, where private companies behind city centre projects commit funds to public realm schemes.
The £290,000 of funding, from a private development at Buchanan Street/Bath Street, will go towards footway works on the northern side of Sauchiehall Street, between Charing Cross and Rose Street.
This refurbishment, at an overall cost of £372,000, will create more space for pedestrians and will use Caithness stone.
The developer contribution allows an equivalent amount of Glasgow City Region City Deal money, which funds the Avenues programme, to be redistributed to the second phase of the Sauchiehall Street Avenue project.
Councillor Kenny McLean, City Convener for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Public Realm, said: “The strategic need for Sauchiehall Street Avenue has evolved as a consequence of a number of factors which can be traced back to the 2008 economic crisis, which had a disproportionate effect on city centres, particularly in the retail and office sectors.
“Recognising these effects it was agreed that failing to respond to the issues would leave Glasgow city centre at a competitive disadvantage and unable to fulfil its potential, respond to known risk, or be developed to full capacity thereby limiting investor confidence in the city which was likely to have further knock-on impact on the city and city-region.”
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The Sauchiehall Street project is being delivered in two phases, with the £5.7m first phase, between Charing Cross and Rose Street, due to be completed in June this year.
It includes the provision of new public realm, surface water management infrastructure, enhanced public walkways, new cycle tracks, junction upgrades and new trees.
The second phase, costing £3.4m, is being designed and will see Rose Street to Buchanan Street/Bath Street developed. Work is programmed to start in June next year, finishing in November 2021.
Overall, the £115 million Avenues programme will upgrade at least 17 key streets across the city centre over the next six years.
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