Glasgow architecture news 2026, Strathclyde buildings, Scottish architects offices, modern property design UK
Glasgow Building News 2026, Strathclyde
post updated 7 Apr 2026
7 April 2026
Homes For Scotland Announces 2026 Awards News
Building on the theme of its Homes Build Futures public campaign, sector body Homes for Scotland announces the shortlist for its 2026 awards programme.
With best practice examples spanning the length and breadth of Scotland, these housing awards highlight the vast contribution home building makes to Scottish social wellbeing, economic growth and prosperity.
The finalist details can be found here: Homes For Scotland 2026 Awards.
23 March 2026
TSSA welcomes Glasgow Central reopening after fire disruption
Rail union TSSA has welcomed news that Glasgow central station will reopen all platforms as of Wednesday (25th March). The move comes two weeks after a serious fire nearby caused the collapse of buildings.
Commenting, TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “We are pleased to see the reopening of Scotland’s busiest railway station after such significant disruption to train services.
“Following the intensity of the fire it was vital that the authorities, led by Network Rail, were given the time needed to undertake thorough safety work, making a full assessment of the infrastructure throughout the station.
“Our union pays tribute to all those who have worked so hard to get Glasgow Central to the point where it will be able to welcome back passengers and see normal services running once again. As ever safety on the railways must come first.”
20 March 2026
Housing emergency set to develop into a catastrophe for Scotland
Shocking new data points to rapidly worsening situation
No more time for Government to lose, says sector body
With Scotland’s housing emergency soon set to enter its third year, a new report from sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS) demonstrates that, far from ending any time soon, the situation is set to develop into catastrophic proportions unless the Scottish Government acts now to intervene effectively.
Following rigorous analysis of local authority published housing land audits (which forecast supply), the research has found that housing completions could fall to as low as 5,000 per annum by 2031 as a direct result of failing planning policy. This compares with the 19,797 homes completed in 2024, the latest calendar year for which statistics are available. Furthermore, this figure does not include the impact of wider regulation which continues to make it increasingly difficult and more expensive to build the range of homes required to ensure the country’s social wellbeing and economic success.
The report highlights that there simply isn’t enough land coming through the planning system to maintain a delivery pipeline that comes anywhere close to meeting Scotland’s housing needs – a situation HFS attributes to the introduction of National Planning Framework 4 in 2023 which has seen 60 per cent of Local Development Plans (LDPs), which guide where new development should take place, become out of date.
On average, new LDPs aren’t due for publication until 2029. As delays persist, the more deliverable of previously allocated sites have been, or are currently, being built out. At the same time, sites which may be constrained/unviable for a range of reasons, (such as contamination or access issues) remain in the system and are unable to be removed in favour of new ones that can deliver much-needed homes.
Given the fact that it takes around four years from submitting a planning application until delivery, this means that the number of new homes being built will continue on a downwards trajectory and that it could be 2033 before new homes start coming through again.
HFS Director of Planning Kevin Murphy said:
“Let’s be clear, the housing emergency has been decades in the making. Whilst we have welcomed the principle of the recently announced More Homes Scotland agency, this won’t be fully operational until 2028/29. We just don’t have that time to lose.
“Frustratingly, this new report only confirms the specific concerns we have been expressing to Ministers and officials since before NPF4 was introduced. However, rather than the Scottish Government addressing these and taking the necessary corrective action, we find ourselves with yet another consultation which describes “a living pipeline of land” with planning permission being “in place for at least 164,000 homes” which have not yet been built.
“As our research shows, this simply isn’t the case. Such narrative belies the wide-ranging, lengthy, complex and costly challenges that the home building sector has to face in delivering much-needed homes of all tenures.
In response to the claim that planning permission is in place for at least 164,000 homes which have not yet been built, Homes for Scotland research has found:
Just over half (c86,000) are in the control of home builders and have detailed planning consent, with over three quarters of these sites, ranging from four homes to over 3,000, already under construction.
Over a quarter (43,000) are controlled by non-home builders which could include local authorities and public agencies.
With the Scottish Government having stated its ambition to build 25,000 homes per annum, this means that there is less than three years of consented supply, well below what is required for businesses to confidently plan their investment and work programmes.
“The truth is planning policy, particularly transition from NPF4 to LDPs, is exacerbating rather than addressing the fundamental problem which lies at the heart of the matter: the chronic undersupply of effective land on which to build homes. In the context of only 1.4 per cent of Scotland’s land being in residential use, it is a shocking and untenable state of affairs that more than one in four Scottish households have been identified as being in some form of housing need.”
In terms of action and in order to provide investment confidence and certainty, HFS has put forward a suite of suggestions, including the immediate reinstatement of the presumption in favour of sustainable development (or the introduction of a similar mechanism) to allow new deliverable sites to be built out earlier and aid the transition between the publication of NPF4 and new LDPs. Masterplan Consent Areas, which are being rolled out in Highland, also have the potential to be part of the solution.
Murphy concluded:
“We continue to stand ready to work with the Scottish Government to implement effective, data-driven solutions and have demonstrated our commitment to this through the identification of specific barriers and the action required to overcome them. I sincerely hope Ministers and officials ensure positive rhetoric translates into effective action before we see any more investment diverted elsewhere in the UK and lose any more of our SME home building base which is now at its lowest level in 20 years.”
8 March 2026
Firefighters tackle blaze near Glasgow Central Station
Firefighters are tackling a blaze at a Glasgow city centre building, close to Glasgow Central Station, report BBC Scotland.
Six crews and a specialist vehicle were sent to the scene of a Union Street fire at about 15:45.
Fire on Union Street – YouTube
Police have cordoned off the street between Gordon Street and St Vincent Street, with diversions in place.
6 March 2026
69-97 Ingram Street Merchant City Construction News
Construction of 109 new low carbon homes and 10,000 sq. ft. of commercial space in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre will begin later this year following purchase of the site at 69-97 Ingram Street by regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate:
69-97 Ingram Street Merchant City
6 March 2026
Glasgow opens doors to its latest purpose-built life sciences hub by London architects Hawkins\Brown
Wes Streeting touring Glasgow’s newest purpose-built life sciences laboratory facility, the Health Innovation Hub:
Health Innovation Hub Glasgow Healthcare
2 March 2026
Glasgow Business Growth Event For Architecture Leaders
Consultancy founder Kevin Crawford – who has 27 years’ experience in practice – is hosting Designing Success, a practical, peer-led event for architecture practice owners and senior leaders who want greater clarity in how they run their businesses and sustainable growth in the years ahead.
photo courtesy of architects office
The one-day event will focus on sharing the business fundamentals that make architecture practices thrive, and will tackle the aspects of practice that too often goes untaught including leadership, finance, marketing, culture, and succession.
The event – on Thursday 12 March at The Studio, Glasgow – will also support the recent launch of a new Project & Practice Management App, alongside free tools, key speakers and new opportunities to help practices streamline operations and make better, faster decisions.
See the Glasgow architecture events page for more details.
25 February 2026
Health Innovation Hub by Hawkins\Brown
photo © McAteer
Located within the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID), the highly anticipated Health Innovation Hub (HiH) has secured Panthera as a new tenant ahead of its official opening next month.
24 February 2026
Glasgow hotel development news
A prime city-centre site in Glasgow with planning consent for a 276-bedroom hotel has been put on the market after its current owners decided not to proceed with the project.
The site at Dale House on West George Street is being marketed for £4 million.
The sale is being handled by Enterprise Hotels & Hospitality on behalf of Arora Group.
Arora acquired the development as part of its purchase of Bloc Hotels in July last year but has since confirmed it has no intention of progressing the hotel scheme itself.
The site already benefits from planning consent for a 276-room hotel, though prospective buyers could also pursue residential or commercial redevelopment, subject to securing revised planning approval. The approved hotel design was prepared by Norr architects.
The move opens the door for a new developer to bring forward a significant city-centre project in a prominent commercial location.
24 February 2026
Battlefield Housing News
Planning approval has been granted for a new later-living residential development in Glasgow’s south side.
A total of 46 homes for over-55s will be delivered on the site of the former Queens Park School on Grange Road in the Battlefield area.
Housing provider Sanctuary Scotland is partnering with CRGP architects to develop the brownfield site, which has remained vacant since 2019.
The approved plans will see the homes constructed across three separate blocks, designed to meet a range of accessibility and varying needs standards. All buildings will include lift access to support independent living for older residents.
In addition to the residential units, the development will feature a private communal garden for residents as well as publicly accessible green space, helping to reintegrate the long-derelict site into the surrounding community.
10 February 2026
Glasgow Art Club Spring Exhibition
The GAC Spring Exhibition opened to the public on Friday 13th on Bath Street – see our events page for more.
++
Glasgow Building News January 2026
29 January 2026
Demolition begins for Charing Cross Gateway
Reigart begins demolition at Elmbank Gardens for major Glasgow redevelopment.
Reigart Contracts has moved onto the Elmbank Gardens site after being appointed by CXG Glasgow to clear two 1960s-era buildings, paving the way for phase one of a major 730,000 sq ft mixed-use development.
The site, located beside Charing Cross railway station at the corner of Bath Street and Newton Street, will ultimately form part of the Charing Cross Gateway regeneration. Clearance works are expected to be completed by August, with construction scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.
Designed by lead architect Michael Laird Architects, phase one of the development will deliver student accommodation. CXG Glasgow secured outline planning consent for the overall masterplan in late 2024, followed by a detailed planning application for phase one submitted in May 2025. Glasgow City Council issued a “mind to grant” notice in December 2025.
Prior to works commencing, approvals were secured from both Network Rail and Glasgow City Council. A temporary public footpath has been established along Newton Street to maintain access to the Britannia Hotel and Charing Cross station, with short-term diversions planned during key stages of the demolition programme.
The wider Charing Cross Gateway masterplan aims to reclaim and reinstate a historic part of the city, creating a new neighbourhood and a prominent western gateway into Glasgow city centre. Phase two will introduce office space, private residential units and retail accommodation.
26 January 2026
Sector urges Scottish Government to capitalise on the welcome potential of new housing agency
Sector representative body Homes for Scotland responds to the Scottish Government’s announcement of a new national housing agency to enable and facilitate the accelerated delivery of homes of all tenures:
post updated 18 January 2026
New Scottish Waterfront Cultural Centre Building News
The National Galleries of Scotland secures almost £56m in funding from the Scottish Government to get a new waterfront cultural centre in Edinburgh started, reports The Herald.
16 January 2026
Northern Architecture Firm Open Scottish Architects Office
Yorkshire architects brown + company have opened an office in Edinburgh. The architecture practice will be run by award-winning architect Rob Miller. See the Edinburgh Building News linked further up this page.
++
13 January 2025
The Victoria Glasgow Homes
Design: Collective Architecture
photo © Keith Hunter
Collective Architecture Completes Phase One of Glasgow’s Historic Victoria Infirmary Revival
First buildings of major scheme provide more than 130 affordable new homes, with hundreds more to come in Phase Two
13 January 2026
Home builders frustrated by Scottish Budget
References to young Scots looking for their first home and support for wider all-tenure ambitions welcome but glaring lack of detail
As Scotland’s housing emergency continues to intensify, the country’s home builders have been left “frustrated” by today’s Scottish Budget announcement.
Jane Wood, Chief Executive of representative body Homes for Scotland, said:
“It was extremely encouraging to hear the Cabinet Secretary for Finance talk of ‘new hope for young Scots looking for their first home’. The Budget document itself also emphasises ‘all-tenure’ ambition and details £66m in Financial Transactions for housing. However, the lack of detail on what this will mean in practice is extremely frustrating.
“With home building levels now at or near historic lows, the only feasible way out of the housing emergency is to build significantly more homes across private and social sectors. Key to this is confidence for both new and existing investors, on which we have been working closely with the Scottish Government but I am afraid today appears to be a missed opportunity to announce the bold initiatives that we believe would significantly stimulate construction. Support for first time buyers (previously provided by the First Home Fund) is absolutely fundamental. It remains to be seen whether this will be forthcoming to give young people the hope the Budget statement alluded to.
“As we approach May’s election, we urge all parties to come forward with policies which deliver the homes Scotland needs.”
12 January 2026
Princes House Student Accommodation Glasgow Building Design
Acting on behalf of TREC Capital, Mosaic Architecture + Design, one of Scotland’s most experienced practices, has submitted a planning application to develop best-in-class purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) at Princes House on the corner of Waterloo Street and West Campbell Street in Glasgow city centre.
image courtesy of architects practice
Princes House Student Accommodation Glasgow Building News
+++
Strathclyde Property Development Update from last year:
11 December 2025
Mosaic Architecture + Design Wins at the Scottish Property Awards
Teacher Building – Renovation Project of the Year:
photo courtesy of architects practice
More Glasgow Building News 2026 online soon.
+++
Strathclyde Property by Type
Contemporary Strathclyde Architecture by Typology – significant properties and structures:
Glasgow architecture competitions
Glasgow architecture exhibitions
Glasgow mixed-use developments
Over time we will add more granular types, for now they are combined, for example colleges are with universities.
More contemporary Glasgow Building News 2026 online soon, from Isabelle Lomholt and Adrian Welch at e-architect.
+++
Strathclyde Architectural Designs
Contemporary Strathclyde Architecture News Archive – properties updates in the recent 2020s:
++
Scottish Property Developments Archive
Older Strathclyde property development updates:
Comments for the Glasgow Building News 2026 – Scottish Architecture + construction – key West Scotland property – Strathclyde architecture & architects page welcome.
