Saracen Exchange Development
Saracen Exchange- Update May 2010
The Background to this project and its component elements can be accessed below. The project is now moving towards detailed design stage with the aim of starting the first phase of work towards the end of 2010.
The Saracen Exchange development recently achieved two major milestones. The first was the granting of planning permission in principle for the new development – this means we can now move forward to start designing the buildings in the knowledge that the development has the approval of the City Council. The second piece of good news received was that Glasgow North Regeneration Agency’s application for European funding has been successful with the news that it has received a grant from the European Regional Development Fund of almost £1million to assist them in the creation of the new Business, Employment and Community Learning Centre – a massive boost for the area and a real endorsement of the value of this development to the local economic regeneration efforts in Possilpark.
Cathy Lang, GNRA Chief Executive welcomed both bits of news saying ‘There can no better news for the area than hearing that the efforts of a lot of people to change the face of Possilpark for the better are becoming a reality. The planning approval will allow both GNRA and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to develop detailed designs for the Buildings – our new Business Centre and the new Health Centre, with the aim of these first phase buildings starting on site later this year. The funding from the European Regional Development Fund is enormously exciting, allowing GNRA to design and build the new Centre to a bigger and better standard – providing the Community with top class facilities and starting the process of creating a new Community Hub on the site’
In practical terms, both NHS and GNRA will now start to design their parts of the development and the community will be consulted on both buildings as they start to take shape. Both buildings will be entered from a new Town Square, giving the community a much needed Civic space. The existing vacant and derelict site will be transformed into a lively new centre and hopefully it will create a new heart to Possilpark and give local people renewed pride in their local area. The local residents were disappointed when a bid for Town Centre regeneration funding was unsuccessful, but the news of almost £1million coming into the area from the European Regional Development Fund will go some way to allaying that disappointment.
The site will shortly have soil remediation works carried out and this will complete all consolidation and remediation works that will make the site ready for building works to commence. This work was made possible through the financial support of the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land fund administered by Glasgow City Council.
North Glasgow Housing Association are hopeful that the new local Housing office can be developed as part of a second phase of works and should be in a position to confirm this later this year. This will add to the local services being delivered from the site.
A number of local organisations have expressed an interest in taking space within the GNRA centre from where they can deliver local services from new, high quality premises. These services will be complementary to the main providers and will add to the community Hub feeling that is being created by the Development. GNRA will create a ‘shopfront’ element to their centre, allowing residents to access the services directly from Saracen Street without the need to go through the main Business centre. Any organisations interested in such space should feel free to contact Anne McAleer, our Head of Enterprise and Property. The opportunity will be there, subject to conditions, for organisations to input into the design of their ‘space’ as the design process evolves.
GNRA are also creating office space for lease within the new building and lease terms will be flexible to encourage new businesses into the area.
GNRA are aware that the local community hope to see improved shopping facilities as part of this development. Although no retailer has yet confirmed their interest in taking space, some discussions will be taking place shortly and GNRA will continue to market the availability of 10,000sq.ft retail within the development.
So exciting times ahead as all the work to make Saracen Exchange a reality takes another step forward. A site start is anticipated towards the end of the year with a construction time of about 12 -18 months.
For more information and details please click on the link below for a background to the development, the full Master Plan and Design Statement:
