WHAT WE DO
Glasgow Building Preservation Trust operates at the crossroads of culture, heritage, the built environment, and community engagement.
We are a Scottish charity, a socially driven property developer, a building operator, and an investor and fundraiser within the city. We act as a community enabler, an events organiser, and a catalyst for heritage-led regeneration.
We work with communities, local authorities, businesses and third sector organisations to find viable and sustainable new uses for old buildings.
Each project is unique, and all contribute to improving local places, strengthening communities, and supporting the regeneration of Glasgow, particularly in areas facing disadvantage, where many historic buildings have already been lost.
Our Services
We work on a range of different types of projects across the Glasgow area. Our services can be (broadly) categorised into three main work streams.
Buildings
For our own projects, we manage the entire restoration process, from feasibility studies and appointing consultants to fundraising, community engagement, and overseeing the on-site restoration. Once complete, buildings are usually sold or leased to charities or social enterprises for long-term management.
Consultancy
We partner with community groups, trusts, and housing associations, sharing our expertise to support their projects. We also offer consultancy, helping with funding applications, project development, coordination, and oversight of historic building repairs.
Engagement
Heritage engagement encompasses the many ways people connect with places, stories, and history. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach; audiences have different needs and motivations. Our work is often embedded in our capital projects, but we also deliver standalone projects, research, activity planning and interpretation.
Four Decades and Counting…
Since its formation in 1982, The Trust has:
- Completed over 50 feasibility studies to identify new uses for empty buildings.
- Delivered 23 core projects, including Hutcheson’s Hall, Kelvingrove Bandstand, the Stewart Memorial Fountain, and many more.
- Raised money and provided strategic development advice to key projects led by others like the Citizens Theatre, Pollok Stables and Govanhill Baths.
- Raised over £54m of capital investment, and generated economic impact well in excess of £100m.
- Successfully delivered the largest festival of built heritage in Scotland, year-on-year since we introduced it to the UK in 1990.
- Reached over 6000 people since 2019 through engagement projects.
For case studies on our most recent building, engagement and consultancy work, see our Projects page.
