Glasgows east end to get 42-storey tower

Plans to construct Scotland’s tallest building as the centre-piece of the £1.6 bn regeneration of Glasgow’s east end were revealed yesterday, with architect Bob Ramage describing the 42-storey tower as “an iconic piece of architecture of international stature”.

The proposed tower is part of a massive urban regeneration project to transform one of Britain’s most deprived areas. The scheme, which will create 10,000 new homes and 20,000 jobs, is to be carried out by a public consortium led by Glasgow city council. The tower itself will combine leisure and retail facilities, with 12 storeys taken up by a hotel, and the remainder used to create “lifestyle” housing. It will be 10 storeys higher than Red Road flats in Balornock, which is currently Europe’s highest residential building.

George Richmond, councillor for Bridgeton and Dalmarnock and chairman of the Clyde Gateway Project, which is co-ordinating the project, was delighted with the plans. He said: "Just look out a window. Even at the planning stages, we are attracting worldwide attention from big companies and hotel chains."