As Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow has a lot going for it. From cultural institutions, to green spaces and rich history, there’s a reason why so many people want to move and live there.
For a long time, Glasgow had a major role in British history as a central hub of shipbuilding and industry. This is reflected in its buildings, which include some of the finest examples of 19th Century Victorian architecture anywhere.
But, that is only one aspect of this city’s architectural composition. Glasgow is now a modern, thriving city which contains a wide range of stunning 21st Century structures, from the SECC Building to the Riverside Museum.
And, like in forward-thinking cities all over the world, it’s changing all the time. With every year, Glasgow adds more and more interesting modern buildings to its collection.
So, to illustrate this, explore our list of the top 11+ construction projects in Glasgow, featuring all the key developments that are going to be ascending in the near future. Please note, for this list, we’re also including buildings that are due to begin construction soon.
Buchanan Wharf
Maximum Height: 18 floors
Status: Under Construction
Developers: Drum Property Group
Construction type: New construction
Type of building: Mixed Use Development
Completion: Mid 2023
Located on the South Bank of the Clyde and close to Glasgow Central Station, Buchanan Wharf is one of Scotland’s biggest ever construction projects. Comprising 300,000 plus square feet of mixed use development, it will expand Glasgow city centre southwards upon completion.
Designed by Drum Property Group, it will feature office blocks, apartment complexes and public realm developments. As well as being vast in size, Buchanan Wharf is being constructed with sustainable methodologies, and aims to have Net Zero carbon credentials.
The scheme is already partially completed, with Barclays opening its new campus on the site in late 2021. It is hoped that the final construction element of Buchanan Wharf will be finished by mid-2023.
Portcullis House
Maximum Height: 33 floors / 107 metres
Status: Proposed
Developers: Watkin Jones Group
Construction type: New Construction
Type of building: Mixed Use Development
Completion: Mid 2023
Portcullis House is an upcoming construction project that will involve the erection of a 33-floor residential apartment building, as well as shops, food outlets and more. The existing Portcullis House, which currently stands at the site’s location, will be pulled down.
The development, which is located close to Glasgow’s Charing Cross Station, will deliver 685 new homes for Glasgow. Among these are 279-build-to-rent (BTR) units and 486 co-living units, all designed to help alleviate the city’s housing shortage issues.
Developers Watkin Jones Group have presented their plans to the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, and have received endorsement. At present, it is still in the proposed phase but a planning decision on the structure is expected soon.
Victoria Infirmary
Maximum Height: 7 floors
Status: Under Construction
Developers: Cruden Building
Construction type: Redevelopment
Type of building: Residential
Completion: Autumn 2023
2023 will see the completion of the redevelopment of Glasgow Victoria Infirmary. Developers Cruden Building have been given the green light to turn the building into a series of residential flats. A total of 413 flats will be built across a range of new and redeveloped blocks.
Victoria Infirmary was one of the city’s landmark buildings, and the former hospital was in use from 1888 until 2015, when it was replaced by the New Victoria Hospital. Its redevelopment has been designed to be in keeping with the existing building layout, and retain its architectural features.
The site is located in Langside, right in the heart of South Glasgow, meaning it will have fantastic connections to the city centre and beyond. Final delivery of the project is expected for Autumn 2023.
Love Loan George Street
Maximum Height: 19 floors
Status: Under Construction
Developers: Chris Stewart Group
Construction type: Redevelopment
Type of building: Mixed Use Development
Completion: Early 2024
The Love Loan at George Street project in the centre of Glasgow consists of mixed-use buildings that will feature residences, restaurants and a top-of-the-range hotel, among others. Designed by Chris Stewart Group, it will replace the existing HM Revenue and Customs Building.
Alongside the construction of these new buildings, there will also be improvements to the surrounding public realm. There will be a new lane created parallel to George Street, which will run through the block and increase connectivity between the University of Strathclyde and the Glasgow City Innovation District.
After being approved for construction in Summer 2021, Love Loan is now in the process of being built. It is hoped that the project will be finished in early 2024.
Custom House Hotels
Maximum Height: 16 floors
Status: Under Construction
Developers: Artisan Real Estate
Construction type: Redevelopment
Type of building: Hotel and Restaurant
Completion: Early 2023
Built in 1840, Custom House on the banks of the River Clyde has seen a lot of its surrounding environment change. And now the building itself is being redeveloped and added to with two new adjoining towers.
These two new buildings will be owned by hotel chains: Clayton are creating a four-star 303-bed hotel, and there will be a 162-bed Adagio Aparthotel. As part of this, there will also be a restaurant, ballroom, and event spaces.
The two hotels will be connected partly by the roof, which is made entirely of glass. Construction is almost complete, and it is expected to wrap up in early 2023.
JP Morgan Tech Hub
Maximum Height: 14 floors
Status: Under Construction
Developers: Osborne and Co
Construction type: New Construction
Type of building: Office
Completion: Mid 2023
Glasgow’s desire to be one of the UK’s biggest technology hubs has been bolstered by the addition of JP Morgan’s new Tech Hub to the city centre. The US bank already has two offices in the city, but now is relocating to a substantial new base.
When completed, the new building will be 14 floors high, and have 270,000 square feet of office space. It will also be built with sustainability in mind, with energy-efficient materials and minimised water consumption being at the forefront of construction.
Situated on Argyle Street in the middle of Glasgow, the JP Morgan Tech Hub is due to complete in 2023. When this happens, the existing two banks will close down their offices.
Central Quay
Maximum Height: 20 floors
Status: Under Construction
Developers: Keppie Design
Construction type: New Construction
Type of building: Mixed Use Development
Completion: To be confirmed
One of Glasgow’s most ambitious regeneration projects, Central Quay will see the construction of 550 residential units, 34,000 square metres of office space and a 150-bed hotel. Among these will be one of Glasgow’s tallest buildings, with the main tower block reaching 20 floors in height.
Designed by architects Keppie, this development first secured planning permission in 2018. Its construction will also feature some public realm improvements, improving the pathways between Glasgow’s river frontage and the Anderston train station.
Construction is well underway on Central Quay’s various components, with the project expected to be up and running in the next couple of years. No exact date has been given for completion as of the time of writing.
Candleriggs Square
Maximum Height: 16 floors
Status: Under Construction
Developers: Drum Property Group, Stamford Property Investments
Construction type: New Construction
Type of building: Mixed Use Development
Completion: 2024
Candleriggs Square is a 3.6 acre development in Glasgow’s city centre that will feature amenities, homes and offices upon completion. It forms part of the wider Merchant City regeneration project.
The £300 million project, jointly developed by Drum Property Group and Stamford Property Investments, replaces derelict land which has not been in use since 1999. In total, Candleriggs Square will take up 215,000 square feet of space.
Construction of this scheme is being done in phases, with the first of these phases – a 500-unit student accommodation, now underway, with construction on this expected in mid 2023. The next phase, a 346-bed built-to-rent tower, will complete in 2024.
Holland Park
Maximum Height: 18 floors
Status: Under Construction
Developers: Moda Living
Construction type: New Construction
Type of building: Residential
Completion: October 2023
2023 will see the ongoing construction of Holland Park, which is one of Glasgow’s biggest regeneration projects. It features the complete regeneration of the former Strathclyde Police Headquarters building and the addition of a new landscaped courtyard.
Developed by Moda Living, the £78 million project will deliver 433 one, two and three-bedroom Build to Rent (BTR) apartments. The old police headquarters that stood in its place was demolished in 2019 following a period of disuse.
Alongside high-quality apartment space, the construction will also feature a public gym and a sky lounge. It is set to open in October 2023.
The Grid
Maximum Height: 12 floors
Status: Proposed
Developers: Commercial Estates Group
Construction type: New Construction
Type of building: Office
Completion: Mid 2023
The Grid is a new 12-storey complex that will provide over 275,000 square feet of office space for businesses in the centre of Glasgow. Developed by Commercial Estates Group, it will feature not only offices but also high level terraces and a sky garden.
Located at 33 Cadogan Street, The Grid will be built with sustainability in mind, adhering to Net Zero Carbon requirements. As the name suggests, the building’s mass has been designed to be in keeping with Glasgow’s iconic grid -shaped street layout.
Construction has been approved for The Grid but construction has not yet begun at the time of writing. However, preparatory works are currently underway.
Glasgow University Campus
Maximum Height: 6 floors
Status: Under Construction
Developers: Faithful and Gould
Construction type: New Construction
Type of building: Educational Facilities
Completion: To be confirmed
The vast redevelopment of Glasgow University Campus is one of Scotland’s largest infrastructure projects. It involves the construction of numerous different educational facilities, including the old Western Infirmary site in the city’s West End.
There are a number of buildings already completed in the scheme, including the Advanced Research Centre, Clarice Pear Building and the James McCune Smith Learning Hub. It is thought that the entire campus redevelopment will cost around £1 billion over a decade.
It is not known exactly when the project will finish, as there are still a number of buildings to be completed.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide to the current top 11+ construction projects in Glasgow. From office blocks and four-star hotels to new landscaped courtyards, 2023 will see a lot of exciting projects come to fruition.
For more compilations, building news and architectural discussion, explore our latest articles, including our pick of 12+ cities with amazing urban design.
Or, for more general definitions of building and architecture-related terms, take a look at our range of building wikis, featuring a guide to the meaning of Purlin and Ribbed Vault.
Last Updated on 17 May 2023 by Michael
