Long-delayed Glasgow waterfront hospitality venue Clydeside Containers is still going ahead, according to the team behind it.
In a statement released this week, the developers said that the project had entered what they ‘hope will be the final stages’ of the Building Control process’.
Touted as a new waterfront food, drink and entertainment destination on Glasgow’s Broomielaw, Clydeside Containers’ plan was to bring together independent street-food operators, hospitality and events in a venue quickly constructed from multiple sturdy shipping containers.
But the project has since faced a ‘significantly longer journey’ towards opening than anyone involved had anticipated, despite the physical development of the venue being – according to its backers – ‘largely complete’.
A spokesperson for Clydeside Containers said: “Nobody is more disappointed than us that we haven’t been able to open the doors to Clydeside Containers yet.
“We completely understand the frustration from people who have watched the venue take shape and understandably keep asking us when it is going to open.
“The simple answer is that we want it open as soon as practically possible, and we remain completely committed to making that happen.”
The team insisted that there had already been ‘significant progress’ with the development.
“We successfully secured planning permission and have received the necessary sign-off from Environmental Health and the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service,” read the statement.
“During the public consultation on our licence application, there were no objections submitted from local residents and from Police Scotland, so we now await a space at a Licencing Hearing in due course to finalise that.
“We now feel that we are entering the final stage of the regulatory process and have submitted what we hope are the final responses to Building Control to address the remaining matters required to secure approval.
The statement added: “We are particularly grateful to Councillor Philip Braat, who has been advocating on our behalf and engaging with Glasgow City Council as we work to get the process over the line.
“Once the Building Control & Licensing Board approval is secured we will begin putting a realistic timetable in place for opening.”
The statement continued: “It has been an incredibly challenging and, at times, frustrating process for everyone involved.
“There has inevitably been speculation surrounding the project during such a lengthy delay, and our team has recently faced an increasing number of enquiries about matters unrelated to the work required to actually get Clydeside open.
“Our focus remains where it has always been – completing the regulatory process, supporting the businesses who will trade from the site and opening the doors.
“A huge amount of time, work and investment has already gone into Clydeside Containers. Walking away has never been our intention.
“We believe passionately in what this venue can bring to the Broomielaw and to Glasgow’s hospitality scene, and showcase all of our committed food vendors whom we continue to work with.
“We know people are tired of hearing that Clydeside is ‘coming soon’, so we aren’t going to announce another opening date until we are in a position to stand behind it.
“What we can say unequivocally is that Clydeside Containers is going to open, and we will open it as soon as it is practically possible to do so.”
