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Property blog: 'West End will rival London and Edinburgh as a hotspot by mid-2020s'

All the latest news from the property market in the West End with estate agent Barry Walker.

The West End is booming and it’s about to become even more of a draw.

A £1 billion development project by Glasgow University is under way along with exciting new plans to turn Byres Road into a European-style retail and leisure destination.

Work is beginning on Scotland’s biggest education development with a 10-year building programme that promises to dwarf the work done in the East End for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The campus development excludes the ever-growing investment in student accommodation and in other college and school campuses.

 Booming: The West End market is on the up and things are expected to pick up further.
Booming: The West End market is on the up and things are expected to pick up further.

It will all add up to a thriving residential honeypot meaning that the West End will, by the mid-2020s, rival Edinburgh and even parts of London as one of the UK’s top property hotspots.

Contractors have begun the soft strip-out ahead of the eventual demolition of the university’s maths and statistics building – the first stage of a planned £700m redevelopment of the 70 acre campus.

Construction will focus on the 14-acre former Western Infirmary site and will include six academic buildings, creating 2,500 jobs.

As well as 699,689 sq ft of academic and teaching space, a 183,000 sq ft research building, and 193,800 sq ft of offices, planning has been submitted for 75,350 sq ft of retail and leisure space, a 134,600 sq ft hotel and 156,100 sq ft of residential.

Sir Anton Muscatelli, the university principal has called it "the biggest development undertaken by this university since it moved to Gilmorehill 150 years ago".

 Improvement: There are major plans to breathe new life into Byres Road.
Improvement: There are major plans to breathe new life into Byres Road.

BIDDING FOR SUCCESS

Meanwhile work is continuing on Byres Road & Lane’s Business Improvement District (BID) plan which is bringing together local businesses to invest collectively in projects and services to enhance their trading performance and environment.

The BID is being funded through a local business levy with contributions from Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Government and the European Union.

Money: BID is being funded through a local business levy with contributions from the taxpayer.
Money: BID is being funded through a local business levy with contributions from the taxpayer.

We’ve had a sneak preview proposals involving BID which include giving pedestrians priority over traffic on Byres Road to encourage outside cafes and restaurants, street stalls and other attractions that will give it the feel of a chic European student quarter.

A consultation process is under way, including a survey of local businesses and residents with a view to producing a five year business plan.

SERVING UP A WINNER

Once again Walker Wylie is sponsoring the Glasgow West End Tennis Tournament which starts at the end of July.

Hundreds of participants from seven tennis clubs in the area are expected to take part in the tournament that will conclude with finals day at Hillhead Sports Club, at Hughenden, on August 27.

With the tournament open to participants of all ages, competition is expected to be tough.

Visit www.glasgowwestendtournament.co.uk for more details.

* Barry Walker has worked for more than ten years in Glasgow’s property industry - the last five in the West End where he lives. Barry set up Walker Wylie with his business partner Stuart Wylie last year.

For more information visit http://www.walkerwylie.co.uk

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