Pacific Quay developments were the ‘meat’ of the Glasgow South Business Club lunch in March.

Past President Allan Haldane introduced speakers Mike Buchan of Jones Lang LaSalle and Roderick Proudfoot of CBRE whose companies are lead partners in the development of the 60 acre Pacific Quay site.

Once the Princes Dock, then the Garden Festival location, the area was renamed Pacific Quay with the Scottish Criminal Records office moving into No 1 in 1988. Next door at No 2, piling has started on a 65,000 square foot Grade A office building. This will be followed by a small office project for No 3.

Among the markers the speakers flagged up were: a bid for a hotel, 12,000 square ft. of retail space, and 300 residential units including townhouses.

Roderick Proudfoot emphasised that the opening of the Clyde Arc – the Squinty Bridge – had resulted in a massive increase in interest in developments at Pacific Quay.  ‘This has opened the whole area and is the catalyst to its success and to the buoyancy of Glasgow. When the BBC opens for business later this year, 2500 people will be working there offering great business opportunities for those companies able to provide the services required.’

Said Mike Buchan, ‘Govan Initiative has been hugely supportive of these developments. The vision, and what is happening at Pacific Quay is very, very exciting.’

At question time, not everyone agreed. Business advisor, Brenda Lillicrap, pointed out that the pedestrian journey from Cessnock underground to the Pacific Quay area had not been thought out. ‘There is a wonderful opportunity to create something here. People will be coming by underground to the area for Pacific Quay and to see the Grade A-listed Walmer Crescent, designed by Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson  next to the underground,  but there is no direct and simple walkway being created although there is one on the masterplan.’

Next meeting of the Business Club will be on Tuesday March 20 and will concentrate on ‘speed networking’.

More information from:
www.glasgowsouthbusinessclub.org.uk.