Glasgow's much-loved Lighthouse building to become climate tech centre

Glasgow’s much-loved Lighthouse building, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is set to become a net-zero innovation hub.

A Glasgow City Council committee granted a long-term, 99-year lease to Sustainable Ventures for the use of the city centre building on Thursday.

The company will use the Lighthouse as a location to help climate tech firms grow while promising to invest in the building and maintain public access.

It believes the hub will help “drive the transition to net zero” while generating up to 5,000 jobs and supporting 500 companies across Scotland.

The plans will also bring new life to the council-owned building, which closed “temporarily” at the start of the Covid pandemic but has not re-opened since.

Glasgow's Lighthouse building will become a net-zero innovation hub. — Glasgow’s Lighthouse building will become a net-zero innovation hub. Glasgow City Council

The council said it has not been in full productive use for several years.

“The granting of the lease for the Lighthouse for this exciting new purpose not only brings a much-loved Charles Rennie Mackintosh building back to full productive use, but also allows the creation of a space where innovation and investment in a growing sector will help drive the economy of Glasgow in the future,” Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for built heritage and development, said.

The Lighthouse, designed by Mackintosh in 1895, is an A Listed building formerly home to the Glasgow Herald and – from 1999 – Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City.

Now, it will be home to a new climate tech start-up centre.

Sustainable Ventures empowers climate tech entrepreneurs through funding, expert services, and a community of peers and partners.

One of its’ key aims is to see the Lighthouse turned into a “net-zero innovation hub” – turning it into the go-to place for clean teach companies in Scotland.

The company, which is Europe’s leading growth partner for climate tech, has supported over 1,000 climate tech start-ups to date, generating more than 7,000 green jobs and more than £1.2bn in funding.

Their London and Manchester workspaces, central hubs for their business community, are currently home to over 170 climate tech businesses.

Sustainable Ventures partner James Byrne said: “Glasgow’s Lighthouse is set to become the beating heart of Scotland’s climate tech ecosystem.

“We’re excited to partner with Glasgow City Council to transform this iconic building into a world-class hub – connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and industry to accelerate innovation and unlock the region’s economic potential.

“By supporting founders with funding, expert services, and a collaborative community, we anticipate The Lighthouse will help generate 5,000 inclusive jobs, support 500 companies and drive the transition to net zero, not just for Glasgow but right across Scotland.”