Glasgow Queen’s Park Glasshouse campaigners call for 'guarantees'

The restoration work will cost at least £50 million and will not be complete until the end of 2029, under a redrawn timetable. The cost of the transformation has leapt from an estimated £35.9m when the site closed for refurbishment in spring 2024 to £50.86m.

The city council, which has already committed £13.9m to the project, will be asked to contribute a further £5m next week, while Glasgow Life, the charity which runs the historic complex on behalf of the council, is looking to secure more than £9m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The campaigning group looking to secure the future of the Queen's Park Glasshouse in the city has responded to the funding announcement and called for "further guarantees" from the council.

The transformation of the People's Palace and Winter Gardens in Glasgow is expected to be completed by the end of 2029. (Image: Glasgow Life)

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A spokesperson for Save the Queen's Park Glasshouse said: "Save the Queen’s Park Glasshouse campaign welcomes the Scottish Government’s announcement of funding towards the refurbishment of the People’s Palace and restoration of the Winter Gardens. This architectural treasure and showcase of working-class culture and heritage deserves every penny that can be found for it. The Winter Gardens has been closed to the public for far too long.

"Save Queen’s Park Glasshouse Campaign now urges Glasgow City Council not just to meet the pledges it has already made, but to go further and guarantee that the Glasshouse will remain in council ownership and operation, open and fully accessible to the public.

"This is the model being adopted for the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens, and we are delighted that the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council recognise its value.

"Glasshouses serve their communities in so many important ways. With investment and restoration, Queen’s Park Glasshouse can provide a rich architectural and botanical space and a unique sensory and learning experience - a place of wonder, wellbeing and enrichment in Glasgow’s Southside."

The Herald reported in June that the council confirmed the Victorian structure could be "closing for good" later in the year, as Glasgow City Council (GCC) tried to plug a near-£50 million hole in its budget.

In response to fears that the listed building would "never reopen", members of the Save the Queen’s Park Glasshouse campaign stood outside the building for 285 hours to gather public views and collected around 13,000 signatures in support of their petition, which was heard at a meeting of Glasgow City Council’s (GCC) wellbeing, equalities, communities, culture, and engagement city policy committee on August 13.

GV of the entrance gates to the glasshouse at Queens Park in the Southside of Glasgow. (Image: Colin Mearns)

During the meeting, council officials confirmed that the building would not be sold and that the local authority is seeking partners, a tenant, or tenants to operate the Glasshouse.

Additionally, the council confirmed it will seek funding to restore the Glasshouse to an ‘excellent standard’ and reinstate its dome.

The future of the 130-year-old facility will now be referred to the appropriate committee, along with recommendations.

A commitment was also made that a report from this committee would be produced within six months.

In the meantime, the Glasshouse will stay open to the public, free of charge, while discussions on longer-term sustainable future uses get underway.