Glasgow's George Square to shut for three months for work

Diversions will be in place as new stone paving is to be laid on the north side of George Square as the redevelopment work continues.

The council said the £20m transformation project is at the halfway point.

It said: “The new phase will ensure that the world-class look and feel of the new George Square extends across surrounding roads and pavements.”

New granite surfaces are being put down from January 12 next month, with Queen Street to North Frederick Street closed for three months to allow work to be done.

Angus Millar, Convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, said the works were core to the “wall-to-wall transformation of George Square” and creation of an international-quality civic space.

Diversions will be in place, following talks with local businesses, bus and taxi operators and the emergency services.

The new pavements currently being laid between Queen Street Station and North Frederick Street and outside the City Chambers, and which will complement the colour and style of the re-laid roads, will be completed over the Christmas period.

The new pavement area outside the bars and restaurants on the western side, and which will also run seamlessly into the Square, is due for completion in February.

Councillor Millar said: “This new phase is all about the wall-to-wall transformation of George Square, from the City Chambers to Queen Street Station and the surrounding streets.

“The new George Square will be on a par with the civic spaces in many major European cities, and that means the redesign of the surrounding area, as well as the Square itself.

“Anyone visiting the city centre should come and have a look at the new stone being laid outside the City Chambers and along from Queen Street Station and they’ll get a sense of what’s coming down the line in the months ahead. And from early New Year they’ll see more and more of the plans progressed and taking shape.

“Of course, we can’t do this scale of transformation and not have some level of disruption – and the council and contractors will continue engaging with businesses and transport operators as works progress. But we’re nearing the halfway point in the redevelopment of the Square and giving Glaswegians the civic space that they, and our city, deserve.”

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Once finished and reopened open next August, George Square will be resurfaced in stone, including more greenery with raised lawns and informal play areas for children, sheltered seating and feature lighting, as well as a paved area for events. 

The Square’s 11 bronze statues are currently being restored and will return in 2026. The restoration of the Sir Walter Scott monument will also begin early in the New Year, with scaffolding already in place. 

The George Square project is part of the wider £123million Avenues programme, the biggest transformation of Glasgow city centre since the 1970s. The Avenues are funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal, with the funding provided by the Scottish and UK Governments.