Plans for £68m regeneration of Shawlands Arcade unveiled

Plans for a £68m regeneration of Shawlands Arcade in the southside of Glasgow have been unveiled.

Originally built in the 1960s, the proposed regeneration aims to create a vibrant shopping and leisure experience and improve the streetscape on Kilmarnock Road, as well as providing new homes in the area.

The redevelopment of the Arcade will be phased, with phase one providing new retail units and more than 300 new homes, with additional retail units and homes added in following stages.

Phase one would comprise of a £68m investment in the area and will support 120 construction and retail jobs.

Proposed improvements to the streetscape include constructing new retail units on the same level as Kilmarnock Road and creating generous pavement areas for outdoor seating.

The proposals are being brought forward by the Arcade’s owners Clydebuilt LP, a property investment and development fund co-owned by Strathclyde Pension Fund and Ediston Real Estate.

Neal Jamieson, director of Ediston Real Estate said: “The pandemic and growth of online shopping has increased the need for town centres like Shawlands to reinvent themselves and grow their appeal by offering an exciting mix of shopping and leisure and keeping the High Street experience alive.

“The new development will build on the success of the Shawlands Business Improvement District by adding to the eclectic mix of independent shops, bars and restaurants already offered by Shawlands and the new homes will bring more people to this lively community.”

The proposals are supported by My Shawlands, a Business Improvement District, which is funded by the businesses of Shawlands and managed by a board of Shawlands business owners.

Lisa McLaughlin of My Shawlands added: “In the four years since the businesses of Shawlands elected to make the area a Business Improvement District, Shawlands has grown from strength to strength to become a highly desirable place to live, shop and socialise.

“This boom in popularity adds to a long-standing desire by locals and business owners to see the re-development of the Shawlands Arcade site into a space that serves the needs and wants of the community better.

“As Shawlands continues to flourish, the My Shawlands board fully supports the plans for the Arcade to evolve and realise its full potential.

“We are looking forward to the improved streetscape that will attract more visitors to Shawlands to enjoy what we have to offer and help our businesses and the whole area to thrive post-pandemic.”

Members of the Shawlands community are being encouraged to give their views on the proposals via a public consultation process, which launches on June 9.