A popular TV personality - the STV weatherman Sean Batty - has helped residents launch one of Glasgow's most colourful and unusual new landmarks.

More than 100 residents and guests braved the pouring rain to attend the switch-on, on Sunday 1 November, of the Castlemilk Lighting Project – a lighting system which brings a splash of colour to three tower blocks and helps residents forecast the weather at the same time.

The project marks the high point of a range of improvements by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) which are helping transform the area.

Part funded by GHA, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government, the lighting system sees coloured lights installed in the windows of a stairwell down one side of the three 19-storey Dougrie Place high rises.


The system, designed and installed by Collective Architecture and Northern Light, can be controlled remotely from anywhere via the internet and this same technology is used to provide a constantly updated visual representation of weather conditions.

The GHA blocks, which are among the tallest in the city, will display the outlook for the next day from dusk until 4am – and the current weather conditions between 4am and dawn.

Mr Batty said: "This fascinating and innovative project has a real practical function as well as looking fantastic.

"The lighting really makes the buildings come alive and residents in the area will be excited about being able to see the next day’s weather forecast. I am sure it will prove very popular.

"It is an ingenious idea, although I hope the people of Glasgow will still tune into STV for their weather – even if it is just to check the high flats have the forecast right!"

The £150,000 Castlemilk Lighting Project is funded by GHA, Glasgow City Council, the Fairer Scotland Fund and the Scottish Government Wider Role.

(CD/BMcC)