Design team appointed for Custom House Quay project on Glasgow waterfront

Published: 25 February 2021

A major project that will see an attractive waterfront area created by extending the River Clyde's north bank outside the Grade A-listed Custom House, and an enhanced green space on the opposite south bank at Carlton Place, has got underway with the appointment of the multi-disciplinary design team. 

The team will be led by architects Hawkins\Brown and Civil and structural engineers Civic Engineers, with associates Harrison Stevens, Urban Movement, Arch Henderson, Turley, Atelier Ten, LLP, New Practice, Turner & Townsend and ITP Energisec.

Known as 'Custom House Quay and Carlton Place', the project - funded by the Glasgow City Region City Deal - will see the embankment expanded out in to the Clyde by possibly up to 20 metres to upgrade the quay walls. This will create a series of mixed-use development plots and enhance public realm and access along the waterfront.  The £25million development will improve access and links to reconnect the city centre to the river, see the creation of more public, green space and create an attractive river frontage that helps to fulfil the city's aspirations of a 'River Park.'  With the project now getting underway, it is hoped that public consultation for the first stage will take place during the summer months. 

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: "We want the Clyde to be an economic and social centre for Glasgow again - and the appointment of a design team is a really important landmark in an ambitious project that will unlock the potential of a key city centre site on the Clyde waterfront.  This is a very attractive location that will be transformed through this scheme, creating a thriving place to complement other developments on and close to the river." 

Stephen O'Malley, Co-founding Director of Civic Engineers commented, "This ambitious project presents an incredible opportunity to reconnect the Clyde with the city core, allowing buildings, activity and people to pivot towards the river and capitalise on this world class, south facing setting and all of the vitality this reframed amenity will bring.  Building on the experience of our role on the Avenues, we will help shape the future for Custom House Quay as a coherent part of a series of city wide, nature-based infrastructure projects. All these crucial regeneration projects link together to bring social, environmental and economic benefits that ultimately create a healthier, more climate resilient, people focused Glasgow."

Peter McLaughlin, Partner at Hawkins\Brown, said: "Our team is thrilled to have been appointed to deliver this exciting project for Glasgow City Council. In replacing the quay wall and creating development platforms with active ground floors and high quality public realm and landscape, the project offers the opportunity to reconnect Glasgow City Centre to the River Clyde and contribute to the creation of a river park by reactivating the river frontage and making this a place for the people of the city to use and enjoy."

The £1.13billion Glasgow City Region City Deal is an agreement between the Scottish and UK Governments and the eight local authorities across Glasgow and the Clyde Valley, with the Governments each providing £500million funding. Find more information at: http://www.glasgowcityregion.co.uk/.