Glasgow is being hindered by a lack of powers which would help it bring empty or derelict properties back into residential or commercial use to transform it.
City Councillor Angus Millar says there is a potential barrier to how far the local authority can progress that initiative without having extra powers, reports our sister title The Herald.
“We need that brought into alignment to make it more appealing to convert rather than demolish and rebuild. We also need the tools to bring the owners of derelict or empty properties to the table. Despite challenges including rail strikes, December sales in Glasgow city centre were 15% ahead of the same month in 2019, slightly ahead of Manchester and substantially ahead of Edinburgh and Leeds .with an increase of 54% rather than traditional retail activity.
"We are still seeing the impact of that from the pandemic. It is one of the reasons why we started the City Centre Taskforce to bring together from various sectors to rebuild. More than 40 years ago, Glasgow faced the dilemma of how it transformed from a city of heavy industry and shipbuilding to enter a new era. Glasgow recreated itself through culture and leisure and led to a string of awards, it became a visitor and retail magnet.
“It appears not to be good for Glasgow. Peak morning footfall has shown the slowest return to pre-pandemic levels at 70%,” added Mr Patrick. “The idea that retail is in terminal decline, that cannot be right,” he added. “Footfall recovery stats suggest that there is still life in retail and that it is a question of understanding what that new retail offer might look like.
"Their leisure and retail is now starting to mix and finding that place in the city that is somewhere special to go. New retailers opened in the centre just before Christmas, The Entertainer and Sostrene Grene. That was the first Scottish store and they chose us and the city centre which was an endorsement for us and Glasgow.
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