Buchanan Bus Station masterplan to inform future development

Glasgow City Council will consider the document when it goes before the City Administration Committee, where approval would make the masterplan a material consideration for future planning decisions and private‑sector investment across the wider city block.

Developed jointly by the council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), with design input from New Practice and AtkinsRéalis, the concept masterplan sets out how the existing bus station and surrounding land could evolve into a mixed‑use urban quarter centred on a modern, flexible and sustainable transport interchange.

At its core is the ambition to replace the current expanse of concrete with a ‘21st‑century mobility hub’, retaining essential bus operations while improving connectivity to Queen Street Station, Buchanan Street Underground and active‑travel routes. The new interchange is envisioned as a resilient multimodal node supporting seamless movement across the city and beyond.

Around it, the masterplan proposes a blend of new homes, student accommodation, shops, offices and a hotel, alongside improved public realm and new green space. Designers emphasise that all proposals have been shaped through extensive public engagement, including surveys, stakeholder groups and workshops.

The redevelopment is positioned as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Cowcaddens, identified in the City Centre Strategic Development Framework as an area with significant transformational potential. The masterplan argues that better integrating the bus station with its surroundings would help repair the urban fabric, support re‑densification and address long‑recognised underperformance in the district.

Provision for the future replacement of the Concert Square Car Park will also be incorporated as the masterplan evolves.

If approved next week, the document will guide both public‑ and private‑sector proposals, ensuring that future development supports a coherent vision for a lively, mixed‑use neighbourhood anchored by a modern transport hub.