North Laurieston Masterplan Tackles Rat-Runs North Laurieston 2026

Key Points

• Glasgow City Council and New Gorbals Housing Association have unveiled a draft North Laurieston masterplan to address rat-run traffic on historic streets like Bridge Street, aiming to reduce congestion and create greener spaces.
• Proposals include lane reductions on Bridge Street, new junctions, pedestrianisation and cycle paths in areas bounded by Bridge Street, Norfolk Street, Gorbals Street, and the Clyde, plus rain gardens with leafy planters.
• The plan targets empty gap sites, derelict buildings, and heritage protection, including using statutory powers to restore listed properties on Carlton Place and others at risk, following the 2024 demolition of India Buildings.
• Aims to simplify the road network for more pedestrian-friendly spaces, reconnect North Laurieston to the city centre, Tradeston, New Gorbals, and riverfront, while re-densifying the area with new homes and mixed-use developments.
• Public consultation is planned for six weeks in May and June 2026; the masterplan is described as the “final piece in the regeneration jigsaw” by council officials.
• Local stakeholders like businesses and residents express mixed views: support for heritage revival but concerns over reduced car access and basic services like lighting and bin collections.

North Laurieston (Glasgow Express) May 2, 2026 – Glasgow City Council has launched a draft masterplan for North Laurieston to tackle the issue of historic streets being used as rat-runs to motorways, with proposals to reduce traffic on roads like Bridge Street and enhance pedestrian spaces.

What Is the North Laurieston Masterplan?

The draft North Laurieston masterplan, developed jointly by Glasgow City Council and New Gorbals Housing Association with Elder & Cannon Architects as lead consultants, seeks to regenerate a long-neglected area on Glasgow’s south bank. It addresses traffic dominance that clogs streets with three to four lanes plus parked cars, fed by slip roads from the Kingston Bridge, making the area hostile for pedestrians. A council official informed a committee that the plan aims to

“bring a much more simplified road network”

to increase “pedestrian and people-friendly spaces”.

As reported by BBC News, George Gillespie, executive director for neighbourhoods, regeneration, and sustainability at Glasgow City Council, stated that

“the masterplan will propel the redevelopment of unoccupied land and buildings, bringing tangible benefits to the local populace”.

The initiative also plans to re-establish transport connections and create a “lively community” along the southern riverbank.

Why Is Traffic a Key Problem in North Laurieston?

North Laurieston suffers from roads clogged with motors heading to motorways, particularly in areas like Bridge Street, deterring visitors and contributing to decline. Proposals include lane changes to Bridge Street and a new junction to reduce this rat-run usage.

The masterplan targets the area encircled by Bridge Street, Norfolk Street, Gorbals Street, and the Clyde for pedestrianisation and cycle paths lined with leafy planters forming rain gardens.

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, city convener for neighbourhood services and assets, described the area as potentially “Glasgow’s South Bank”, referencing London’s cultural transformation. Fraser Stewart, director of New Gorbals Housing Association, noted that parameters include

“stopping it being an on-ramp for Glasgow’s motorway network and not turning it into a car park”.

How Will Heritage Buildings Be Protected?

The plan deals with empty gap sites and protects heritage amid losses like the iconic India Buildings, demolished in 2024 after roof collapse, with the council yet to recover £1m costs from the owner. It proposes using legal powers to restore derelict listed properties, including many on Carlton Place.

As detailed in Scottish Construction Now, the masterplan emphasises retention and repurposing of surviving heritage assets while bringing vacant buildings into productive use.

New Gorbals Housing Association, with partners like Kevin Murray Associates, CDP, and Stantec, aims to guide investment to reactivate vacant land. Councillor Kelly indicated readiness to use compulsory purchase orders if owners fail to act, stating

“no one is going to spend 50–60 million on a building if the one next to it could literally collapse”.

What Do Locals Say About the Proposals?

Local business owners offered varied feedback during early discussions. Barny Taplin, owner of Carlton Studios for 35 years, highlighted decline with vacant buildings reducing his cafe sales from eight dozen to three dozen morning rolls daily.

Nade Ali of Namak Mandi restaurant stressed needs for street lights and bin collections before grand plans, viewing pedestrianisation as a risk to car-dependent customers.

Artist Patricia Fleming of Oxford House gallery praised the area’s diversity and “beautiful bones”, cautioning against civic neglect like poor lighting that heightens safety fears for women.

She noted recent creative influx, positioning Laurieston as part of a gallery circuit. Shaz, a local property owner, remained pragmatic, focusing on the site’s marble features rather than immediate masterplan impacts.

Bailie Dr Soryia Siddique and Councillor Kelly have pushed for the plan, urging residents and businesses to engage in consultation.

What Is the Timeline and Vision for Regeneration?

Public consultation runs for six weeks from May to June 2026. The vision spans short, medium, and long-term horizons, linking North Laurieston to city centre frameworks and south Clyde corridor projects like Laurieston phases and Buchanan Wharf.

It positions the district as a bridge between Tradeston, New Gorbals, and waterfront improvements between Eglinton Street and Gorbals Street.

The second-stage consultation document calls North Laurieston the “missing piece of the regeneration jigsaw”, imbued with social, cultural, and historical significance. Plans include new homes – potentially a couple of hundred – mixed-use neighbourhoods, and enhanced streets to counter environmental degradation.

Fraser Stewart emphasised social housing to limit gentrification, citing NGHA’s 1,250 homes in New Gorbals and Hutchesontown. The masterplan builds on NGHA’s track record in the area.

This coverage draws from multiple sources including BBC News, Glasgow Bell, Scottish Construction Now, and Scottish Housing News, ensuring comprehensive reporting without omission.

Background of the Development

North Laurieston, part of Glasgow’s Gorbals or southern city centre fringe, features 33 listed buildings and proximity to the Clyde but has faced decades of neglect. High-rise replacements in the 1960s disrupted tenemental life, leading to population loss and vacancies. Recent losses include India Buildings in 2024, amid issues like drug use, fires, and poor maintenance.

Nearby successes in Merchant City, New Gorbals (over 3,000 homes by NGHA), and Barclays Campus bypassed it, leaving fragmented urban grain and “widespread environmental degradation”. Immigration has sustained shops, clubs, and arts, with venues like O2 Academy and Citizens’ Theatre. The masterplan completes south Clyde regeneration, fast-tracking private, council, or NGHA developments.

Prediction: How This Can Affect Local Residents and Businesses

Implementation of the masterplan could reduce traffic congestion, improving walkability and safety for local residents through pedestrian spaces and cycle paths. Heritage restorations might stabilise property values and attract investment, benefiting homeowners but requiring owners to cooperate or face compulsory measures. Businesses reliant on car access, like restaurants, may face challenges from lane reductions, potentially shifting customer patterns towards public transport users.

New homes and mixed-use sites could increase population density, boosting demand for local services while social housing aims to maintain affordability. Artists and cultural venues might gain from enhanced visibility and reduced decline, fostering a vibrant community, though basic fixes like lighting must precede to build trust. Overall, successful execution could integrate North Laurieston into city prosperity, but consultation feedback will shape balances between traffic calming and economic needs.