Glasgow’s reputation as a ‘Dear Green Place’ is increasingly being realised, particularly in the city centre. With the city entering year two of Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ), developers of new city centre offices are focusing on these requirements, constructing attractive schemes that will deliver benefits to personal health and wellbeing as well as reducing pollution.
Due for complete implementation by the end of 2022, the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards will apply to all vehicles, and Glasgow City Council is also set to undertake a feasibility study on imposing a workplace parking levy.
The Council backed plans earlier this month to pedestrianise areas of George Square, as part of its wider strategy to remove vehicles from sections of the city centre and enhance pedestrian links and cycling access, one of the main aims of their £115m Avenues programme.
City centre residents will certainly enjoy the benefits a cleaner environment brings but, how will the large employers with a commuting workforce fare?
Positively, Glasgow is enjoying a purple patch for inward investment. Large corporates such as Barclays and JP Morgan are endorsing Glasgow by choosing to expand, invest and grow in the city.
Ken McInnes, Offices Agency Partner at Ryden commented:
“Commuting patterns will continue their evolution towards greater use of public transport, and to cycling, since car use certainly cannot increase to accommodate the new jobs arriving.”
“A healthy workplace enhances productivity for the employer as well as being good for the individual. To attract the best talent employers want leisure club standard changing amenities and outdoor meeting areas incorporated into office design.”
In Glasgow city centre the next office development cycle is well underway. The first scheme to reach completion in 2020 will be 2 Atlantic Square, a 100,000 sq ft office development in the exciting IFSD area. Developer BAM Properties has focused on the wellbeing of the employee from the outset and incorporated a large external public realm area, together with 180 secure cycle spaces, 24 showers and an array of leisure club standard facilities. Their target is the sophisticated employer who wants a vibrant space for their workforce.
In this regard, Ken McInnes added:
“It is good to see Glasgow at the forefront of reducing city centre car usage in Scotland and enhancing the environment for workers and residents in the city.”