Councillors in Glasgow have approved Scottish Opera’s 'ambitious' plans for a new canalside headquarters in the city.
The design, which has been developed by Page\Park Architects, is for a 'thriving, mixed-use development' on a site adjacent to the Forth & Clyde Canal, which has laid derelict since the 1980s.
Known locally as New Rotterdam Wharf, Scottish Opera’s new headquarters will sit at the heart of the new proposal.
As well as a new headquarters, the development will serve as a creative Education and Community outreach hub for the citizens of Glasgow and include 'state-of-the-art' orchestral rehearsal and performance spaces, adaptable to becoming a conference centre and film sound stage.
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The development will also contain classrooms for skills development courses, music practice rooms for hire, and a public café with panoramic views over the city. Other facilities to be provided include a large costume store for the company, an extensive music library and a rental resource to theatre, TV and film production companies.
The plans also include for a publicly accessible rooftop ‘hidden garden’, accessed via bridge links from the canal towpath. The garden will be flanked by a café space.
Alex Reedijk, Scottish Opera General Director, said: “As long-term members of the creative community of North Glasgow, we at Scottish Opera are pleased that the planning committee has approved our ambitions for the Company and the wider public realm on the Maryhill spur of the Forth & Clyde canal. This approval is the next milestone on a long journey to securing a 21st century headquarters for Scottish Opera, rooting the Company in Glasgow for the next 60+ years.
“We are delighted an additional benefit will be an improvement to the canal towpath and space around it, including a public rooftop garden and café, with inspiring views across the west of Glasgow. The new building will be a place where people can come together to meet like-minded people, where an intersection with artists and the public builds a strong community spirit, with performances, outreach and education events designed to appeal to people of all ages and tastes.
“On behalf of Scottish Opera, thank you to all the individuals and organisations who have supported our vision for the future of Scottish Opera and North Glasgow. We are pleased to take the feedback from the local community on board and we acknowledge the support of the canal corridor as our ambitious plans come to fruition.”
Andrew Bateman, Managing Director Page\Park Architects, said: “It is an absolute privilege to support our good friends at Scottish Opera in this journey to realise their vision for the future of their organisation at New Rotterdam Wharf, and this endorsement by the Planning Committee is the next step in that journey.
"As a practice wholly committed to the re-use and regeneration of buildings and places within the city, supporting Scottish Opera to continue to flourish, with a design that will contribute significantly to the ongoing regeneration and development of a ‘cultural hub’ along the Glasgow branch of the Forth & Clyde Canal, is tremendously exciting for us.
"We wish to thank the full design team involved in the project for the creativity they each brought to the process and also to the City Design Group for the robust and positive dialogue through Pre-App and Application stages that helped shape and refine the proposals”.
Billy Garrett, Director of Culture, Tourism and Events at Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow remains a significant city in creating a thriving environment for Scottish artists, including the many musicians and artisan craftspeople that work with Scottish Opera. This new development at New Rotterdam Wharf ensures these specialist skills remain in Glasgow. Scottish Opera’s plans complement the wider transformation already under way in making the Glasgow Canal Corridor a great place to live, work and visit.”
Scottish Opera will partially fund its new headquarters building and the associated public realm by fully developing the site as a mixed-use development.
The scheme will include purpose-built student accommodation, which will incorporate 700 beds in two blocks on two parcels of land either end of the site.
A spokesperson from the University of Glasgow commented: “Scottish Opera’s plans positively contribute to the regeneration efforts at New Rotterdam Wharf and the site is well connected to serve several of the city’s HE institutions.
"The potential economic impact and further social and creative benefits brought by this mixed-use development would positively contribute to, and help to address, several key issues facing the city, not least the ability to maintain the attractiveness of Glasgow as a place to study.
"The proposed plans for providing enhanced public realm, opportunities to deliver a range of community benefits, in particular engaging with Graduates and young people through the various training and skills programmes, are encouraging.”
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