Frequently Asked Questions

What are you doing?

We are creating a new vision and masterplan for Buchanan Bus Station and the surrounding urban block. This will include changes to the existing  bus station, its surrounding public realm and how it interacts with neighbouring locations, as well as setting out what you need from a modern bus station. It will also consider if there is the opportunity to introduce other types of buildings into the area, which will complement the operation of the station and the area around it. The current project focus is only on the development of a new vision and masterplan for the bus station; no plans for any detailed design or construction are proposed.

Why are you doing this? What’s wrong with the existing bus station?

While aspects of the bus station have been modernised in recent years, mainly to improve the passenger experience, safety and efficiency, for the last 45 years the station is largely unchanged from when it first opened. In late 2010, SPT carried out improvement works on the internal spaces of the bus station, however these did not extend to its external areas and the layout and operations of the bus station have not changed.

When will any work start, and how long will it take?

We are at the very beginning stages of this project. The current project focus only concerns the development of a new vision and masterplan for the bus station, and this stage is expected to be complete in September 2025. The masterplan will not include detailed designs or construction; this will come afterward, in any future pieces of separately commissioned work over the following years.

Is the bus station being demolished?

We are considering all options for the site.
As the project progresses and any designs are developed, there may be a need to modify parts of the existing station.

What will the impact on the surrounding city centre be?

The current design work will have no impact on the surrounding city centre. Part of this work to develop the masterplan includes the assessment and consideration of any future impacts, and ways to mitigate or phase them. While operational efficiency is paramount in any assessment of the future of Buchanan Bus Station, there is an opportunity for the site to be regenerated in such a way as to complement, and ideally enhance, any development proposed by our neighbours on adjacent sites.

What will the impact on bus use be?

The current work will have no impact on the operational use of the bus station. We know that Buchanan Bus Station is an important transport hub within Glasgow and the west of Scotland’s wider transport network. For any work that progresses beyond this masterplan stage, we are committed to the continued effective operation of Scotland’s biggest bus station.

Who is paying for this?

The masterplan is funded by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) which owns and manages the bus station.

Who is leading this project?

The project is being led by SPT, with Glasgow City Council a key partner in the masterplan development.  Atkins Realis with New Practice have been appointed to deliver the Masterplan development on our behalf.

How does this relate to other plans in the area, like Buchanan Galleries or Glasgow City Council’s Avenues project?

Part of the purpose of the masterplan is exactly this – to consider how the bus station responds to changing plans surrounding it. In developing the new vision and masterplan, our team will engage with neighbouring locations to ensure that our work considers any future plans they may have.

The design team and SPT are working closely with Glasgow City Council in relation to their future city centre strategies and their associated construction works.

What is the project area?

The project relates to the entire urban block, with Buchanan Bus Station at its core.
See below for an overview of the project area.