Item 21Disposal and Development Agreement - Barras Centre
Calton Entry/Stevenson Street/Bain Street/Moncur StreetPurpose of Report:The purpose of this report is to seek Committee authority to dispose of the ground lease interest
of the Barras Centre at 54 Calton Entry, Glasgow, and enter into a development agreement with
Rock DCM to secure a comprehensive development proposals for the sites bounded by Calton
Entry/Stevenson Street/Bain Street/Moncur Street Glasgow, as shown hatched on the attached
Recommendations:Is it recommended that Committee approves the proposed disposal of the ground lease interest
at 54 Calton Entry for £85,000 and authorises the Executive Director of DRS to conclude the
development agreement for the adjacent sites bounded by Calton Entry/Stevenson Street/Bain
Street/Moncur Street to secure an integrated development to support the regeneration of this
area, under the terms and conditions set out in this report.
plan.
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HeraldBarrowland is trump card in council plans to revitalise Barras MarketPublished on 1 Dec 2009
The world-famous Barrowland Ballroom is being lined up as the centrepiece of rejuvenation plans for Glasgow’s notorious Barras Market.
Plans are at an advanced stage of development to rebrand the area to bring together the marketing for its stalls, cafes and pubs with the legendary Barrowland. The plan would mirror London’s successful Camden market, which has its Electric Ballroom and Underworld venues operating alongside at least six separate markets.
It would allow the Barras to function all week instead of just at weekends, stimulating investment and visitor footfall.
The details come a month after The Herald revealed traders at the infamous market had drawn up an action plan to avoid it suffering the same fate as other sites forced to shut by the authorities.
Traders are exasperated with criminal gangs peddling contraband and counterfeit goods at the market.
As part of efforts to overhaul area with the Barras and Barrowland marketed as unique tourist destinations, the city council has looked at other markets throughout the UK and Europe as a template for what could be achieved, including Camden, St George’s in Belfast, Birmingham’s Rag Market and the Mercat de Santa Caterina in Barcelona.
The four are seen as markets continuing to operate successfully in major cities and include market trading provisions such as six and seven-day operations, specialist market days, formalised trader management arrangements and the use of new technology. The council believes these provisions should be considered in revitalising the Barras Market.
But it believes that the proximity of the Barrowland could be a trump card.
A report being developed by the authority says: “There is an opportunity to promote the Barras Market as a specialist market destination. One idea would be to capitalise on the co-location of the Barrowlands music venue in the creation of a vibrant music-related marketplace.
“The extension of market operations to seven days per week rather than weekends only would generate much more activity around the area.
“The main market days are at the weekend. On weekdays and in the evenings, the markets are closed and the area is relatively empty. This lack of activity is not helped by the extensive use of solid steel roller shutters, which creates uninviting dead frontages throughout the area.
“The only areas which do provide some evening activity are around the Barrowland music venue where concerts are held, and at the entrances to pubs.”
There are currently 18 different markets within the Barras complex with around 1000 stalls and 150 shops. The traders sell a wide range of goods including antiques, jewellery, object d’art, homeware, furniture, bric-a-brac, clothing, electrical items, fruit and vegetables, computer games and CDs.
However, with the stalls rented out on a weekly basis and traders not requiring a lease or contract from the market operators, there is little control on the type and quality of goods sold.
Other proposals include a tourist trail connecting the Barras with the People’s Palace Museum, expansion of the creative and cultural industries based in the Merchant City eastwards and a “market traders mentoring scheme” to encourage new businesses to start up in the Barras.
Owners of The Barras
Centre, which houses 17 units and a cafe, many of which are currently vacant, intend to make improvements to the centre and encourage uses both during the daytime and in the evening that would benefit from a rejuvenated Barras.