Glasgow City Council has approved plans to extend the Buchanan Galleries site.

The £300m extension proposal will see the shopping complex double in size and create 1,700 new jobs for the area, STV has reported.

The application was approved in principle at a meeting of Glasgow City Council's Planning Committee yesterday.

Plans include the construction of a 700,000sqft space for retail premises, 15 restaurants and a multiplex cinema, while the existing Buchanan Galleries site, which is around 600,000sqft and hosts 90 shops, would be refurbished.

If proposals go ahead, the existing 2,000-space car park would be demolished to make way for the new complex, with a new 1,700-space car park being built to the east of Queen Street Station. A pedestrian bridge over Cathedral Street would link the extension and building and there would also be improved access to the Queen Street station, subway and Buchanan Bus Station.

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The steps at the Glasgow Concert Hall and small entrance to Buchanan Galleries on Sauchiehall Street would also be replaced with a central atrium which would act as a focal point giving access to both venues. As the application is for planning permission in principle, wider details on the design will be submitted at a later date.

The Buchanan Partnership is behind the ambitious development and is a joint venture between Land Securities and Henderson Global Investors.

Nick Davis, Development Director of Retail at Land Securities, said: "We are delighted to have been granted outline planning approval to progress our exciting plans to extend Buchanan Galleries and further strengthen the retail and leisure offer for visitors to Glasgow."

Chris Pyne, Director of Shopping Centres at Henderson Global Investors, added: "We are confident that the plans which have been developed will create a first class retail and leisure destination for the City that will encourage further investment from national and international brands alike."

(JP/CD)