Work on Glasgow’s George Square revamp begins as billboards appear

The exhibition shows images and information about the past, present and future of the square ahead of the extensive refurbishment. 

The billboards have been placed on coloured fencing with a section of the square laid with sand. 

We previously reported work was set to begin in January and hoardings will be erected around the civic square with 11 statues removed to storage for restoration.

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(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) The statues set to be removed, restored and then returned to the Square are: Prince Albert, Robert Peel, Queen Victoria, Thomas Campbell, Sir John Moore, James Watt, Robert Burns, James Oswald, William Ewart Gladstone, Thomas Graham and Field Marshall Lord Clyde.

Construction at George Square is expected to be completed by August 2026 while work on surrounding streets should finish by April 2027. 

The project will include a water feature, a raised lawn, sheltered seating and feature lighting. There is also set to be “informal ‘play’ areas for children”.

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(Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest) A further raised lawn green area will be created in front of the Cenotaph. The council has said the designs for the eastern part of the square respond to “its institutional character and the formality of the city chambers and the Cenotaph”.

At the western end of the square, there will be an area for cafes to spill out and paved space for events.

Statues are expected to be returned to new locations on the finished square from July 2027 onwards. Designs show the Sir Walter Scott monument and the Cenotaph remaining in their current places.

(Image: Glasgow City Council) Officials have reported the final design “respects the central east west axis in the square (city chambers, Cenotaph, Sir Walter Scott monument)” and “responds to the non-institutional character of the western area of the square”.

John McAslan and Partners were awarded the design contract for George Square and surrounding streets. These include John Street, St Vincent Street and Place, West George Street, George Street, Hanover and Miller Street, North Hanover Street, Dundas Street and Dundas Lane and Cochrane Street.