PEOPLE
1.7 During the decade to 1999, the City's population fell from 649,930 to 611,440, a drop of 38,490. Despite this trend, the number of households is expected to increase at a rate of 720 per year as opposed to 415 per year between 1991-98; from 274,000 in 1998 to 281,200 in 2008. People from the ethnic communities of Pakistan, India, China, Africa and the Caribbean accounted for 3.5% of Glasgow's population in 1991.
JOBS
1.8 The 1980s and early 1990s saw Glasgow's employment levels fall from 361,000 in 1981 to 309,000 in 1993. A reversal of this pattern occurred towards the mid-1990s and by 1998 employment levels had risen to 368,500, an increase of 59,500 jobs since 1993.
1.9 The service sector accounts for 79% of Glasgow's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 84% of its employment. The City Centre, where 1.34 million square metres of Glasgow's 2.04 million square metres of office floorspace can be found, has accommodated much of this growth. This has helped consolidate the City's position as Scotlands largest office centre. In terms of total output, Glasgow produces 16.4% of Scotland's GDP.
INFRASTRUCTURE
1.10 Glasgow is a major nodal point in the Scottish transport system with a comprehensive internal transport network that includes motorways, the largest suburban commuter rail network in the UK outside London and a modernised underground system. At 246 cars per thousand of the population in 1998, car ownership is lower than the Scottish and UK averages. 39% of all journeys to work by Glasgow residents are made by public transport.
Working Glasgow
1.11 The M8 motorway runs through the City and continues to Edinburgh. At the Baillieston Interchange, the M8 links via the M73 to the M74/A74 (South) and with the A80 (North). The M77 has improved links to Ayrshire.
1.12 Buchanan Galleries, completed in 1999, significantly boosted Glasgow’s retail floorspace, reinforcing its position as Scotland’s largest retail centre and attracting trade from the rest of West Central Scotland and beyond. The City is now one of the most popular destinations for overseas visitors, for UK short breaks and has the fastest rate of growth of all UK tourist destinations. Scottish Tourist Board statistics indicate that between 1991 and 1998 UK tourist trips to Glasgow increased by 88%, while overseas tourist trips between 1991 and 1997 increased by 25%. In 1998, 1.4 million UK tourists visited Glasgow, spending an estimated £171m. In the same year, 600,000 overseas visitors spent an estimated £166m.
Buchanan Galleries
ENVIRONMENT
1.13 Glasgow’s network of greenspaces (3,870ha) accounts for over 20% of the City’s total area. The network consists of public parks, amenity open spaces, countryside areas, two local nature reserves, over 30 sites of City-wide importance for nature conservation and around 40 sites of local importance. The 1,790 listed buildings in the City represent the principal elements of Glasgow’s architectural heritage. The City also has 19 conservation areas, which extend over 1,423 ha, each containing its own distinctive character.
Holmwood House
