The people of Glasgow will get a final say on the future of George Square as the council gathers views on sketches which show how the redesign could look.
Initial images have been drawn up following a public engagement exercise on what people want from the city’s main civic space and surrounding streets. They include more seating, a cafe area, a large lawn and a rain garden.
The latest consultation stage will collect feedback on the early designs, which are intended to prompt discussion, with comments then used to shape the final plans.
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Council leader Susan Aitken said: “Glasgow deserves a civic heart that reflects the great, welcoming, vibrant city that it is — and I’m pleased people from all over the city have taken their opportunity to tell us what George Square means to them and what they would like to see it become.
“This final engagement will not only see their thoughts on our city’s most historic and loved public space take shape; but also give Glaswegians a final chance to influence the final design.”
Earlier public consultation has revealed there is significant support for including more greenery in George Square, with 82% of participants in favour of increasing the amount of greenspace.
Closing George Street and St Vincent Street along their boundaries with George Square to private vehicles also received support, with 67% and 65% agreeing with the suggestion respectively.
The council has reported 67% of survey respondents were in favour of exploring options that might involve relocating statues to new locations within the square or elsewhere in the city.
The redesign of George Square and surrounding streets, under the Avenues scheme, will be carried out over two phases. Construction for phase one, which includes the square, John Street, Hanover and Miller Street, a section of North Hanover Street and Cochrane Street, is expected to start in 2024 and be completed by 2026.
Phase two will focus on St Vincent Street, George Street, Dundas Street and Dundas Lane and is expected to be finished in 2028. The £115m Avenues project aims to develop a network of new, attractive, accessible, safe and sustainable routes through the city centre, encouraging active travel.
A four-week consultation exercise was held earlier this year and followed a ‘public conversation’ on the future of George Square in 2019.
The consultation looked at civic spaces around the world and asked which elements would work in Glasgow. These were: Bryant Square, New York; Union Square, San Francisco; London’s Leicester and Trafalgar Squares and Old Market Square, Nottingham.
John McAslan + Partners, which worked on the recent refurbishment of the Burrell Collection, has been awarded the design contract for George Square.
The architectural practice previously received a contract to redesign the square in 2013 but the project was pulled by then council leader Gordon Matheson, despite around £100,000 being spent on the scheme.
Funding for the Avenues programme, which has already involved an active travel route for pedestrians and cyclists on Sauchiehall Street, comes from the Glasgow City Region City Deal, a £1bn investment from the UK and Scottish Governments.
The final stage of consultation includes online engagement at www.ourplaceglasgow.com/get-involved/george-square, a pop-up display in the square and a series of sessions with stakeholder groups.
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