5.34 Glasgow is the largest office centre in Scotland and one of the largest in the UK. The Council seeks to ensure that the City remains a competitive office location. The majority of the City’s office and business stock is located within the Principal Office Area (Figure 5.6). The area’s role as a major office location complements and supports the City Centre’s role as a retail, leisure, tourism and education centre. It also plays an important role in sustaining and enhancing the Central Outstanding Conservation Area and numerous listed buildings and is a major component supporting the regeneration of parts of the City Centre.
Figure 5.6 : Principal Office Area
5.35 The attraction of the Principal Office Area reflects its accessibility. It is the focus of the public transport network and benefits from maximum accessibility for both staff and customers. The age and character of many of the offices within the Principal Office Area often makes the introduction of modern technology more complex. This, together with necessary parking controls, has led to pressure from some occupiers for alternative locations.
5.36 The Business Class was introduced in 1989 to facilitate the development of buildings that could accommodate the requirements of modern businesses. Its introduction resulted in an increase in the level of office and business floorspace outwith the Principal Office Area. Many of these developments provide modern accommodation and make specific provision for car parking. They have attracted occupiers such as call centres, financial and professional services and information technology based businesses. The City Plan Technical Note: Jobs, highlights issues for planning policy and provides some background to policy IB 4: Business Class Development in Part 2.
Principal Office Area
5.37 These occupiers often have different market requirements to those locating in the Principal Office Area. There is concern that an increase in offices outwith the Principal Office Area could, if continued, undermine Government efforts to minimise car trips and promote sustainable development and the Council’s desire for the sustained regeneration of the City Centre. Significant development opportunities continue to exist within the Principal Office Area, both through the redevelopment and refurbishment of existing office stock and the extension of office use into the Broomielaw area.
5.38 Scottish Executive research has highlighted that technological advances and cost considerations are resulting in the increasingly effective use of office and business space. As a consequence, total demand for office and business space is not forecast to increase, despite the projected growth in service sector employment.
The City Council will direct proposals for high density office developments towards the Principal Office Area through the Development Policies contained in Part 2 of the Plan.
5.39 The Council recognises the need to accommodate occupiers who require a lower density operating environment, outwith the Principal Office Area. Such developments, however, should generally be within areas identified for industrial and business use and which benefit from, or are capable of achieving, high accessibility by foot, cycle and public transport.
5.40 While every effort will be made to encourage the modernisation of existing floorspace within the Principal Office Area, there may be circumstances where this is not practical. Where surplus office accommodation emerges which is unsuitable for refurbishment, the Council will investigate opportunities for suitable alternative uses, such as retail, leisure or residential.
The City Council will give favourable consideration to the alternative use of surplus office floorspace in the Principal Office Area provided the alternative use contributes to the vibrancy of the City Centre and accords with the Development Policies contained in Part 2 of the Plan.
