Glasgow City Council has released details of its strategy for managing its extensive built heritage estate, which has seen over £280 million invested in the past twelve years.

The city's Heritage Asset Plan, designed to optimise the management of its diverse assets, encompasses hundreds of listed buildings, battlefields, bridges, conservation areas, designated landscapes, monuments, and statues.

The plan, integrated into the council's Property Asset Strategy, dictates the prioritisation of properties for operational use and investment. Aware of the challenges facing heritage buildings, the council will prioritise council use, followed by community and third sector use, before considering commercial opportunities.

A framework of actions guides the plan, focusing on both operational heritage properties, such as the City Chambers and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and non-operational assets like Elder Park Farm and St Vincent Street Church. These actions include maintenance, refurbishment, promoting community use, partnership working, and, as a last resort, demolition.


Recent and ongoing projects highlight the council's commitment to preservation and enhancement. These include a £4.35 million investment in the Gallery of Modern Art, a £3.6 million restoration of Provan Hall House, a £1.65 million upgrade of Provand's Lordship, and an £18.85 million refurbishment of Pollok House and Pollok Stables. Additionally, a £23 million project will transform the former St James' Primary School into a Gaelic Medium Education Centre.

Despite financial constraints, the council has allocated £1 million for targeted improvements over the next three years and is developing proposals for further investment in the People's Palace, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and the Mitchell Library, while seeking external funding.

The newly established Built Heritage Commission will provide strategic advice on heritage assets, conservation areas, sustainable uses, funding, planning, public realm, buildings at risk, and climate change. Over the next year, the council will conduct assessments of all heritage assets, focusing on community use and long-term investment needs.

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Convener for Housing, Development, Built Heritage and Land Use, said: "Glasgow has a fantastic heritage estate, of which we are rightfully proud and consistently make significant investment in. To make the most of the economic, cultural and social benefits that the estate brings to the city, we use the Heritage Asset Plan - and now also the Built Heritage Commission - to do all that we can to manage the estate effectively and realise as many of those benefits as possible. We will continue to invest in the estate to ensure that the people of Glasgow and our visitors continue to enjoy this fantastic part of our heritage."