April 25 2025

Rainton Construction are in line to deliver a major redesign of George Square, now shrouded in hoarding, ahead of a site start in June.

Subject to a pending committee hearing the contractor will deliver the centrepiece of the broader Avenues plan in a £20.5m contract to pave the public space in stone and introduce informal 'play’ areas for children in sensory gardens in the east. A raised lawn platform, trees, seating and lighting will also be introduced to designs by John McAslan & Partners.

Encompassing North Hanover Street (between Cathedral Street and George Square); George Street (between Montrose Street and George Square); West George Street (between Nelson Mandela Place and George Square); Cochrane Street and St Vincent Place, the works will be delivered over two phases with the square reopening in August 2026 ahead of the full project wrapping up in spring 2027.

As part of this process 11 bronze statues will be removed from the square next month for conservation and restoration. 

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Roddy_ on 25 Apr 2025 at 17:27 PM

I thought FBOT won the contract with his mooted accelerated program? Was it the collateral warranties that let you down?

Alas, these public authorities and their major public realm projects are a fickle and short-sighted bunch...:)

#2 Posted by Glenn Doran on 25 Apr 2025 at 19:02 PM

I genuinely can't understand how this is going to take eighteen months,I'm working on a building site looking down on George Square and every man on that site is astounded to know that they'll basically grow a bit of grass and clean a few statues...as before and after pictures are no different, stunning waste of £20million and depriving Glasgow of George square.

#3 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 25 Apr 2025 at 20:54 PM

£20.5mill for a Q+D spruce up of George Square when we have a £1.5mill funding gap for the 3 listed buildings in the Calton with plans to deliver much needed social housing.

£20.5mill spend for a very light refresh of the square when we have the DIY waste tips on Lochend Road and Commonhead Road.

£20.5mill spend on re-surfacing a perfectly adequate public space when street cleaning and road repairs have been reduced to a performance art level -- high days and holidays -- instead of the public service that we need.

And now it is going to take 24 months to complete -- this is student level politics at its worst.

This is just spending other peoples money just for the sake of it.

#4 Posted by Roddy_ on 25 Apr 2025 at 21:58 PM

@#2

And we have another! Perhaps you and FBOT could go into the cost project management biz together. :)

Please share your proposed program for the works. :)

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