About.GBPT aspires to be an exemplary Building Preservation Trust that delivers high-quality, sustainable conservation projects which contribute to the regeneration of Glasgow’s built environment.
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Established in 1982
Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT) was established in 1982 as a charitable trust to rescue, repair, restore and rehabilitate significant, historic buildings at risk across the city. The retention of our historic built environment is pivotal to our sense of place and contributes to making Glasgow a beautiful and vibrant place to live, work and visit. Without the Trust’s interventions many fine buildings and landmarks would have been lost.
In 1990, GBPT, with the Scottish Civic Trust, launched Glasgow’s first Doors Open Day, which has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the highlights of Glasgow’s events calendar. Our Mission
GBPT aspires to be an exemplary Building Preservation Trust (BPT) that delivers high-quality, sustainable conservation projects which contribute to the regeneration of Glasgow’s built environment. We are one of the largest and most productive BPTs in the UK, with 4 members of staff and multiple projects underway at any one time. Over the last 30 years we have undertaken a wide range of work to help repair, enhance and promote Glasgow’s built heritage.
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Our Aims
Our Benefits
Often referred to as ‘developers of the last resort’, BPTs acquire, repair and find appropriate new uses for buildings which no-one else is willing or able to take on. We can access charitable and public funding unavailable to local authorities and commercial developers in order to deliver projects which drive social and economic regeneration. In particular GBPT can offer;
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Staff Team
Anne McChlery
Fiona Spowart
Glasgow Doors Open Days Assistant |
Niall Gallacher
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Andrew McConnell
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Ingrid Shearer
Heritage Engagement Officer |
Stephen Sheriff
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Our History
GBPT was formerly known as the Bridgegate Trust, established in 1982 to take on the redundant Briggait Fish Market which at the time had been threatened with demolition. This Category A-listed building described as ‘Scotland’s most important surviving market halls’ (Historic Scotland) was successfully saved, and for a period operated as a speciality shopping centre, but a long-term viable reuse was actively sought for two decades. Between 2001-09 the building was successfully converted by the Wasps Studios to the award-winning artists’ studios and cultural centre.
In 1991, the Bridgegate Trust became Glasgow Building Preservation Trust. Over the years, with the continued support of Glasgow City Council, through revenue and capital funding and the consistent support of funders such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and the Architectural Heritage Fund, our activities have expanded significantly and there is growing demand for our services. |
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Our Board
The Board of Directors comprises elected members, nominated representatives from City institutions and co-opted directors, who all give their time voluntarily in support of the work of the Trust. The Board has a wide range of expertise including architecture, planning and law and is currently chaired by John Entwistle.
The Building Preservation Trust (BPT) Movement
BPTs are charitable organisations established to rescue historic buildings at risk by repairing and converting them for viable new uses. They usually take on market failure buildings, where the cost of repair exceeds their restored value or where the future of a building is uncertain. BPTs are part of a much wider movement established in response to the destruction and neglect of the historic built environment. The earliest BPT established in the UK was the Cambridge Preservation Society formed in 1929.
In Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland (established in 1931) launched the Little Houses Improvement Scheme in 1960 which buys neglected or dilapidated historic properties then restores and sells them for the purpose of regeneration. This pioneering scheme is widely recognised as the main inspiration for other subsequent building preservation initiatives across the UK. One organisation pivotal in the growth of the BPT movement is the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) established in 1976 as an independent charity to provide readily available working capital to local preservation trusts throughout the country in order to help save historic buildings.
SAVE Britain’s Heritage has also been influential to the movement since its creation in 1975 – European Architectural Heritage Year – through its public campaigns to raise awareness of endangered historic buildings, with a special emphasis on the possibilities of alternative uses for such buildings.
The BPT movement grew significantly in the 1970s and 80s and there are now almost 300 BPTs in the UK whose common aims include the preservation and regeneration of historic buildings for the benefit of the public. Most belong to the Heritage Trust Network the membership and representative organisation for BPTs. The Scottish BPT movement is well established with the second half of the 1980s in particular being a very dynamic period when many individual trusts were set up. A few BPTS operate across the whole of Scotland, several at regional or sub-regional level with the majority of trusts delivering results at the local level.
Since 1984, over 110 buildings have been successfully restored and 43 have been removed from the Scottish Buildings at Risk Register. The majority of BPTs are run by volunteers but 11 trusts in Scotland have members of staff, including GBPT.
BPTs are charitable organisations established to rescue historic buildings at risk by repairing and converting them for viable new uses. They usually take on market failure buildings, where the cost of repair exceeds their restored value or where the future of a building is uncertain. BPTs are part of a much wider movement established in response to the destruction and neglect of the historic built environment. The earliest BPT established in the UK was the Cambridge Preservation Society formed in 1929.
In Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland (established in 1931) launched the Little Houses Improvement Scheme in 1960 which buys neglected or dilapidated historic properties then restores and sells them for the purpose of regeneration. This pioneering scheme is widely recognised as the main inspiration for other subsequent building preservation initiatives across the UK. One organisation pivotal in the growth of the BPT movement is the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) established in 1976 as an independent charity to provide readily available working capital to local preservation trusts throughout the country in order to help save historic buildings.
SAVE Britain’s Heritage has also been influential to the movement since its creation in 1975 – European Architectural Heritage Year – through its public campaigns to raise awareness of endangered historic buildings, with a special emphasis on the possibilities of alternative uses for such buildings.
The BPT movement grew significantly in the 1970s and 80s and there are now almost 300 BPTs in the UK whose common aims include the preservation and regeneration of historic buildings for the benefit of the public. Most belong to the Heritage Trust Network the membership and representative organisation for BPTs. The Scottish BPT movement is well established with the second half of the 1980s in particular being a very dynamic period when many individual trusts were set up. A few BPTS operate across the whole of Scotland, several at regional or sub-regional level with the majority of trusts delivering results at the local level.
Since 1984, over 110 buildings have been successfully restored and 43 have been removed from the Scottish Buildings at Risk Register. The majority of BPTs are run by volunteers but 11 trusts in Scotland have members of staff, including GBPT.
View our Annual Reports
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Buildings in our care |
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Following a major building repair and conversion project, we continue to own St Andrew’s in the Square in order to provide the building with a viable future. The restored 18th Century former church is leased to a dedicated Trust, St Andrew’s in the Square Trust (SAINTS). SAINTS has re-invented the building as Glasgow’s Centre for Scottish Culture, which hosts weddings, concerts and other events, with a restaurant, Café Source, in the basement. For information on the history of the project, see our projects page.
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