Key Points
- Investment scale: An investment of over £8 million is proposed for the recladding of Skypark 1.
- Developer: Federated Hermes submitted the planning application to Glasgow City Council on behalf of an institutional investor client.
- Timeline: Work is scheduled to start in early 2027, subject to planning consent.
- Scope of work: Replacement of existing exterior panels installed in the late 1990s on non-tenanted areas like escape stairs, toilets, and lift cores with a new insulated cladding system.
- Design goals: To cut energy loss, improve energy efficiency, remedy staining and discolouration, and provide a sharper, more contemporary look with varying colour and tone.
- Tenant continuity: Works have been designed around high occupancy, allowing existing tenants to continue trading throughout the project.
- Historical investment: Skypark owners have invested over £17 million since 2018 in upgrades, decarbonisation, cycle hubs, and reception spaces.
- Key leadership comments: Perspectives provided by Christina Holland of Federated Hermes Real Estate and Stuart Patrick of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce regarding the regeneration and business confidence in Glasgow.
Finnieston (Glasgow Express) October 7, 2026 — Federated Hermes, a specialist in active investment management, has submitted formal plans to Glasgow City Council to carry out a comprehensive recladding project at Skypark 1, the nine-storey building situated at the heart of the Skypark campus.
Subject to securing planning consent, construction work on the ambitious £8 million overhaul is scheduled to commence in early 2027. The extensive investment is projected to transform one of Glasgow’s most prominent commercial office buildings, replacing aging exterior panels installed in the late 1990s with modern, high-performance insulated cladding.
What Are the Details of the £8 Million Skypark Recladding Project?
The planned upgrade focuses heavily on enhancing both the environmental performance and aesthetic appeal of the landmark structure. As detailed in the planning submission, the exterior updates will be executed across non-tenanted areas of the building, specifically targeting zones located behind escape stairs, toilets, and lift cores.
The primary technical objective of the retrofit is to significantly reduce energy loss and boost overall energy efficiency, aligning with modern commercial property standards. In addition to thermal improvements, the project aims to remedy existing staining and discolouration that has accumulated on the 1990s-era facade over decades of weather exposure.
Furthermore, the architectural redesign will introduce a sharper, more contemporary visual identity to the campus. The updated exterior will feature shifting colours and tones that vary dynamically across the height of the nine-storey building, modernising its presence on the city skyline.
How Will Tenants Be Affected During the Construction Phase?
Commercial property projects of this scale often raise concerns regarding operational disruption for existing occupants. However, planning documents indicate that the refurbishment works have been meticulously structured around Skypark 1’s high occupancy levels.
The strategy ensures that existing commercial tenants will be able to continue trading and operating normally throughout the construction timeline without facing major interruptions to their daily business activities.
This latest initiative forms part of a much broader, long-term capital improvement strategy executed by the property’s owners. Since 2018, investments exceeding £17 million have already been pumped into upgrading and refurbishing office accommodation across the campus, alongside the implementation of various sustainability and amenity enhancements. Previous phases of development included the decarbonisation and refurbishment of office suites, the construction of Glasgow’s largest end-of-journey cycle hub, and the installation of a brand-new reception area and on-site café.
What Have Project Leaders and Business Figures Said About the Investment?
Speaking on the strategic importance of the upcoming project, Christina Holland, asset management director at Federated Hermes Real Estate, stated that
“Skypark has grown into one of Glasgow’s most sought-after business addresses, and this investment will ensure that Skypark 1 keeps pace with what occupiers expect from their workspace.”
She further noted, as reported regarding the company’s wider urban regeneration portfolio, that
“We’ve seen through projects like NOMA in Manchester and Paradise in Birmingham how the right long-term investment in a building and its surroundings can shape an area for the better. Glasgow city centre continues to evolve at pace, and we want to ensure that Skypark contributes to this positive change.”
Echoing these sentiments from a regional economic perspective, Stuart Patrick, chief executive of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, added that
“Skypark is an important business destination in a strategic location, and this continued investment in the campus is a strong vote of confidence in Glasgow.”
Mr Patrick also observed that the proposal
“builds on a long-term commitment to the city and shows the importance of investing in established assets as Glasgow grows and changes. With significant plans taking shape around the Clyde, sustained private investment like this helps maintain momentum and strengthen Glasgow’s appeal to businesses and investors.”
Background of the Particular Development
The Skypark business campus has long served as a cornerstone of commercial activity in the Finnieston district of Glasgow, transitioning from industrial roots into a thriving hub for creative, tech, and corporate enterprises. Over the past decade, Glasgow’s western periphery and the corridor surrounding the River Clyde have undergone extensive regeneration, shifting from traditional manufacturing and shipping economies toward modern service sectors.
Properties built in the late 20th century, such as Skypark 1, face increasing pressure to meet stringent modern energy efficiency regulations and shifting tenant expectations regarding sustainability, carbon reduction, and workplace wellness. Federated Hermes has systematically acquired and managed large urban regeneration assets across the United Kingdom, applying similar phased capital expenditure strategies to future-proof aging commercial stock against obsolescence in a competitive leasing market.
Prediction
This £8 million investment is expected to bolster the long-term asset value of the Skypark campus and enhance its competitive edge in Glasgow’s commercial real estate market. For current and prospective corporate tenants, the improvements will translate into lower energy overheads, improved thermal comfort, and a modern corporate image that aids in employee recruitment and retention.
For the broader Glasgow business community and the Finnieston area, the project reinforces investor confidence along the Clyde corridor, potentially catalysing further private sector expenditure in surrounding commercial and mixed-use developments as the city centre continues its ongoing spatial and economic evolution.
