As Glasgow looks to improve its fortunes with inward investment, Lord Willie Haughey has called for ‘joined up’ thinking to help boost innovative city projects and expedite growth.
Lord Haughey said: “We’ve been asking for weeks for people to be shouting for more growth. So it is great to see a company called CXG has put planning permission forward for a redeveloped Charing Cross. It’s a huge development and may amount to £250 million of investment.
“The people who applied previously to build student accommodation on the old M&S site in Sauchiehall Street are going to reapply. There was real disappointment when that was knocked back the first time so, hopefully, it will be successful.
“If you add these to the projects coming from Land Securities about the possible redevelopment of the Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow, it makes for really good news for an area of the city that needs a boost: the ‘Golden Z’ really needs to a shot in the arm.
“All I would say to the people at the local authority is these are all major developments, so can we make sure there’s joined up thinking across the three of them, so it helps all of these people trying to invest in the city.”
Sir Tom Hunter said: “If I was running Glasgow City Council, I would be putting someone on point and saying: ‘Right, you go and make sure these people who want to invest in our city get rushed through. Take care of all the blockages and don’t drive them mad by not coming back to them.”
Lord Haughey agreed, adding: “Glasgow makes great strength of saying it is no longer called a local authority but a local government. This is key for the city.
“So why don’t you appoint a Minister for Sauchiehall Street and join all this together. Make it a project for both a politician and an officer so they’re on the hook to deliver the best possible outcome for this brilliant potential for inward investment.”
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