July 5 2018

BAM Properties and TCP Developments have commenced delivery of 284,000sq/ft of office space at Glasgow’s Atlantic Square after securing a significant pre-let from HMRC.

The government agency has committed to 187,000sq/ft for a minimum of 20 years, bringing 2,700 full-time staff together on one site once operational at the end of 2021, joining 12 other regional tax centres scattered across the UK.

Piling is well under way to accommodate the ten storey block, which will also be joined by a smaller 96,650sq/ft sibling. Designed by Cooper Cromar the project will include retention of an A-listed warehouse façade, which will have a new archway punched through to provide access to a basement car park.

Completion is expected by autumn 2020.

10 Comments

#1 Posted by Charlie_ on 5 Jul 2018 at 11:08 AM

I'm guessing the retail and residential components have been quietly dropped? 'Ifsd', dull dull dull

#2 Posted by Urban Realm on 5 Jul 2018 at 14:02 PM

Current construction encompasses the twin office buildings only, including a stretch of public realm connecting York & James Watt Street. Ground floor levels will be split between reception areas and 'possible' retail/food&drink/leisure uses.

The corner residential/ground level retail component (Building 3) isn't being progressed at this stage.

#3 Posted by Pedro on 5 Jul 2018 at 16:29 PM

How utterly depressing. Why are developments never fully realised in Glasgow?! Another empty plot of land to lie vacant forever.

#4 Posted by E=mc2 on 5 Jul 2018 at 16:30 PM

From the same team that gave us the pound shop equivalent of the “Willis Faber” building / black glass thing on Queen Street a few years ago so I don’t hold out much hope for this. Just look at the building line....

#5 Posted by John Ray on 5 Jul 2018 at 17:49 PM

I think it's great, very ambitious. Just what we need on the Clyde.

#6 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 5 Jul 2018 at 17:52 PM

On Independence HMRC will cease to exist in Scotland so the Scottish Government should be setting down a market now that they will not take over liability for architectural abominations such as this! Why do so many of these schemes depend on public subsidy for 20 years through leading agreements? Love to see the dilapidation clause too.

One big con!

#7 Posted by Charlie_ on 9 Jul 2018 at 09:36 AM

Bothwell exchange will soon go ahead without any of the retail and residential components mooted in its preap. Here BAM have a huge prelet and their residential component was already derisory - still no follow through. The council keep stating their aim to increase city centre population but when push comes to shove it seems like they either can't or won't do *anything* to make it happen? Tradeston will be next.

#8 Posted by david rainey on 9 Jul 2018 at 11:03 AM

Great to see this long vacant site coming to life and the listed façade being incorporated in the new building. The way the Scottish Govt like to spend the money even if we are independent Graeme McCormick they will need plenty of HMRC to gather the tax. No subsidy at all just a straight forward commercial lease - similar to the one Nicola's administration was ready to sign on the same building.......

#9 Posted by Walt Disney on 10 Jul 2018 at 08:58 AM

Can't see anything wrong wioth 2700 well paid jobs in the city centre, 10 minutes walk from train stations. I'd agree with #8 that the SNP would need double the amount of tax collectors to fund their 'policies'.

#10 Posted by A Local Pleb on 10 Jul 2018 at 12:57 PM

Cant see the point of retaining the old facades if the new elements are so close behind and there is no attempt to limit the building height to that of what is left? No streetscape or sensible massing. Poor show but then Glasgow appears to have lost any desire to deliver a cohesive well thought out approach to urban design.
Lets build it higher and blander at every opportunity.

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