The Argyle Street East Avenue project will rejuvenate the stretch from Glasgow Cross to Central Station, making it more attractive to residents, visitors, and investors alike.

Funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal, backed by the Scottish and UK Governments, the project will deliver widened pavements, enhanced green spaces, and new public areas. It will complement ongoing improvements at the western end of Argyle Street, helping reshape the entire corridor from the M8 to the Gallowgate.

As part of the works, a new west-to-east bus route will run through the pedestrianised section, significantly reducing journey times and improving public transport connectivity across the city centre. This route will also set the stage for the creation of more pedestrian-priority spaces and a reduction in traffic around Queen Street, Ingram Street, and Candleriggs, areas that will be further developed by early 2026.

The comprehensive overhaul will mark the most significant upgrade to the area since the 1970s, and Glasgow City Council has published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to gauge market interest from contractors. This step is aimed at shortening the procurement process ahead of construction, which is scheduled to begin in early 2026.

Councillor Angus Millar, convener for City Centre Recovery and Transport, commented: “The Argyle Street East Avenue is about readying these famous streets for the century ahead. Recent decades have been tough for this part of town but we’re seeing new turnaround developments on Trongate, major new retail offerings on Argyle Street and global employers investing in new headquarters just further west. That’s real confidence in our city centre.

“The Argyle Street East Avenue is about creating the conditions for more of that. But also, giving Glaswegians a greener, more attractive city centre with an international look and feel they can be proud of.”

The plans have been widely welcomed by transport groups, business leaders, and accessibility advocates. Dr George Hazel OBE, Chair of the Glasgow City Region Bus Partnership, said the new route would deliver faster, more reliable services, encouraging fewer car journeys and supporting a more sustainable transport system. Greig MacKay, director for Scotland at Bus Users UK, added that the improvements would boost service reliability and attract more passengers.

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, also voiced strong support: “The move to significantly enhance both the functionality and appeal of a key part of Glasgow City Centre is a welcomed development. Creating a more attractive environment for businesses, residents and visitors, while improving connectivity between our transport hubs, is essential to Glasgow’s long-term economic recovery.

“Although the Avenues programme is complex, using a combination of lessons learned from previous phases alongside continued engagement with business, it is hoped there will be limited impact on the trading environment. Infrastructure investments of this nature will support footfall, boost local trade and help make the city centre of Glasgow a more vibrant and accessible place for all.”

The Argyle Street East Avenue will also tie into ongoing improvements at George Square, helping to create a more integrated and vibrant city centre. With public engagement set to continue in the coming weeks, this transformational project is poised to reshape one of Glasgow’s most important thoroughfares for generations to come.

For more information and contractor interest, the project PIN is available at: Public Contracts Scotland – Argyle Street East.