St Enoch Centre is set to be demolished to make way for a major new development that will 'reimagine' the centre.
Glasgow City Council has given the go-ahead for the plans that include a new shopping and leisure space, nearly 1,000 homes, office space, a four-star hotel and a public realm.
Property developer and asset manager Sovereign Centros has said the proposals show that the centre can be "sustainably" developed over a number of phases that could take 15 to 20 years to complete.
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The timescale would allow retailers, restaurants and leisure operators to stay open throughout.
Demolition will take place over four phases, with key buildings retained including the A-listed Buck’s Head building, the B-listed former Debenhams and unlisted properties at 135-255 Argyle Street.
The proposals were created to 'complement' the Glasgow City Centre strategy which focuses on opening streetscapes and improving linkages from the riverfront, Merchant City and Glasgow Green into the city centre.
After public consultation, the plans were changed to include widened streets, increased daylight and a public square.
Guy Beaumont, Director at Sovereign Centros, said: “This marks a milestone moment for St. Enoch Centre and underlines the council’s commitment to meeting the needs and demands of people who live and work in the city centre.
“It’s an exciting time for Glasgow city centre and with a clear strategy and appetite for improvement, there is an enormous opportunity to create something truly special. We will now begin to refine the proposals, in line with our consents.”
Last year, Sovereign Centros received permission to transform the former Debenhams store on Argyle Street into offices with a rooftop restaurant, which the company said would safeguard the future of the building.
The plan was described as “amazing” and “exciting” by councillors who granted planning permission in principle.
The development is to lead to the “creation of new streets and reintroduction of the Glasgow grid” according to a report presented to a council meeting.
Speaking at the committee today, councillor Eva Bolander, SNP said: “It is really exciting to see this coming forward as it is such a transformative project.”
Councillor Imran Alam, Labour, said: “It looks like an amazing mixed development for the city centre - good for regeneration of that part of the city centre.”Conservative councillor Thomas Kerr said: “I think it is a really exciting development.”
He pointed out like all developments it has its “challenges” but it “opens up a lot more space” and “links in with the Clyde.” He added: “There is a real opportunity to regenerate that area.”Greens spaces are to include rain gardens and plots for growing vegetables and flowers."
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