DETAILS have been revealed of a mixed-use plan to breathe new life into the historic Meat Market sheds in Glasgow’s East End.

The multi-purpose development between Calton and Dennistoun includes sport and recreation facilities, a bar/restaurant and events space plus commercial, light industry and office accommodation.

Meat Market Regeneration Community Interest Company is proposing a number of new structures and areas which would be created under or beside the B-listed sheds including:

• A sports hub building (approx 1,747 sq metres) with badminton hall
• Padel tennis courts (approx 1,809 sq metres)
• Bar bistro (approx 310 sq metres) and events space
• An enterprise centre (approx 184 sq metres) with meeting and co-working space
• An up-cycling centre (approx 407 sq metres) with workshop and showrooms

The proposals make up phase three of a project to restore and repurpose the derelict sheds and vacant land around them, which are the subject of 25-year community lease.

Phase one is a linear park across the site and phase two involves selective demolition and refurbishment of the sheds. Meanwhile hundreds of flats for mid-market and social rent are being built on land elsewhere on the site and on neighbouring land.

Documents submitted with the planning application explain: “Our project (Phase 3) comprises a range of interventions below and around the refurbished sheds to create a viable and sustainable end use for the wider site.

“In addition, the Phase 3 project will include repairs and refurbishment of areas of the site outwith the immediate footprint of the sheds, including the historic boundary walls, archways and gates.

“Our proposals are based on adopting the refurbished footprint of the sheds (including any areas to be dismantled or removed) as our existing context. We do not propose any further alterations to the historic structure of the sheds beyond those proposed by the Phase 2 project team.

“New interventions below the sheds have been carefully positioned to sit within the constraints of the historic frame, allowing the structural form of the sheds to be clearly legible.”

The renovated and re-imagined space will provide a sports hub, which will also be the base for a national sporting organisation; padel tennis provision accessible to the local community; one of a network of new circular economy recycling re-use hubs; a bar/bistro and covered open multipurpose events space under the canopy of the refurbished shed structures.

All of the new buildings would be under the shed roof apart from the sports centre which would be a new-build on its own because of its height.

The project design statement continues: “Through a future phase and from a separate building, an active travel hub will be part of the wider vision and embedded in this unified vision for the site.

“The wider site masterplan combines these proposals with phases creating a new pedestrianised linear public realm park, activating the northern edge of the refurbished sheds, and connecting Bellgrove Street and Melbourne Street, and separate community growing spaces complementary to the uses and activities being developed within the refurbished sheds.

“The redevelopment of the Meat Market is a complex project involving several stakeholders across multiple phases.

“Phase 3 proposals take as their ‘existing condition’ the successful outcome of applications for the selective demolition and refurbishment of the historic shed structures.”

MOSAIC Architects also explain: “The buildings are generally arranged with pitched roof profiles that reference the form of the historic sheds, and allowed these new buildings to site more comfortable under the canopy.

“The pitched roof lines of the new buildings reduce their overall massing and allow greater visibility of the roof structure above.

“In the case of the sports building, the volume required internally to suit its function meant that the main hall could not be located below the sheds.”

The document also states: “This large and highly visible site offers significant opportunities for learning and engagement activities that reflect and explain the heritage to visitors.

“We would propose that a space for heritage might be located at the upper level below the historic sheds. This elevated, accessible gantry space offers visitors a new physical perspective on the interior of the sheds, but we would also suggest that its linear form be well suited to illustrating a historic timeline through the history of the site, culminating in the open space above the bar for learning, making and culture, all informed by the story of the site.

“The heritage of the site should also be reflected in the external landscaping and context of the sheds — we would propose that opportunities to integrate artworks, site-specific installations or other appropriate digital or physical media would increase the awareness of the heritage to a wider range of visitors and passersby.”