City centre scheme is transport operator’s latest planned redevelopment of a station site in its ownership

Glasgow Queen Street

Glasgow Queen Street station’s new BDP-designed main entrance, completed in 2021

Network Rail has appointed Edinburgh-based practice Comprehensive Design Architects (CDA) to design a “landmark” office building on vacant land next to Glasgow’s Queen Street railway station.

The landowner is working with development partner Blockwork and Arup on proposals for the 0.75ha site, which sits on a steep slope directly behind George Square and neighbours the 14-storey Met Tower.

The scheme will also include a new station entrance on North Hanover Street, enhanced retail space within the station, new public spaces and other upgrades to the station.

It is Network Rail’s latest planned major redevelopment of a brownfield site in its ownership following similar schemes at York station and proposals for Liverpool Street, Waterloo and Victoria stations in London.

Glasgow Queen Street was opened in 1842 and is the city’s second busiest train station after Glasgow Central, and the third busiest in Scotland, serving nearly 15 million passengers a year. A new entrance was added in 2021 as part of a £120m redevelopment designed by BDP.

Pre-planning documents for the CDA scheme in the form of Proposal of Application Notices have been submitted to Glasgow council with more details to be announced at a first round of public consultation to be held this autumn.

Network Rail group property director Robin Dobson said the plans would “unlock and transform disused railway land at the heart of the city, to enhance the station and create modern, connected spaces for people to live and work”. 

He added: “The development is a great example of public and private sector collaboration, to deliver investment and community benefit. It is a real statement of our confidence in Glasgow and the potential for continued future growth.”  

Network Rail said the scheme would also aim to improve connections to The Avenues, a council project to create new pedestrian and cycle routes around parts of the city centre including George Square.

The announcement of the Queen Street scheme comes two weeks after student developer Vita Group said it had acquired the Met Tower with the intention to transform the 1960s building into co-living homes.