Bid to turn historic Glasgow building into food market

Built as the city’s fish market, the building, managed by arts charity Wasps, was turned into a home for artists and cultural organisations in 2010.

It was awarded £1.6m earlier this year to restore 1200 square metres of under-utilised space and turn it into a “creative industries hub and market hall food and drink destination”.

Now, a design team, led by Collective Architecture, has been appointed by Wasps and plans have been submitted to Glasgow City Council.

They reveal how the charity hopes to bring the Briggait Clydeside Halls back into use as “accessible and flexible event and market halls”.

“The purpose of the project is to develop a conservation-led approach that addresses ongoing issues with the existing building fabric and gives the Briggait back its iconic status as an important building for Glasgow and its people,” the plans stated.

“The project will create a vibrant and engaging frontage to the River Clyde and provide the basis for a flexible, sustainable creative hub to complement and grow the cultural community that has been resident in the developed parts of the Briggait complex since 2010.”

The application reveals the project aims to repair and restore the building, improve the carbon efficiency, create a “vibrant entrance” on Clyde Street and convert the corner block into a “stand-alone unit”. It would be used for markets, including food and drink and craft, as well as events, such as theatre.

Described as “one of Glasgow’s architectural icons” in the plans, the Briggait, built between 1873 and 1914, was awarded A-listed status in the 1970s following “a move to demolish the buildings when they were vacated”.

“When viewed from Bridgegate, the Briggait is home to a vibrant creative community, with around 150 people based in the building, producing art, architecture, digital design and leading cultural organisations.

“However, to date, the Briggait is only partly rescued from dereliction and decline. When viewed from Clyde Street, the Briggait is viewed as an unloved building with a semi-derelict air, giving no sense to passers-by of the wonderful soaring roof, bright and airy spaces and important history the Briggait has woven in Scotland’s heritage.”

Wasps took a long lease of the building in 2007 and completed a £6.8m first phase of development in 2009, which included artists’ studios, offices, commercial lets, two gallery spaces and a large hall for exhibiting and performances.

The latest phase of development will focus on a 1904 hall, 1889 hall and a 1904 corner block as well as an external gap site. The council accepted £1.6m for the work from the Scottish Government’s regeneration capital grant fund.

When the money was awarded, Audrey Carlin, Wasps’ chief executive, said: “Securing the fund allows Wasps to restore the former market halls while reconnecting Glasgow’s city centre to the riverside and the local community to this important landmark.”