The first completed section of Glasgow's ambitious £120 million-plus Avenues programme, the Holland and Pitt Street Avenue, has officially opened, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing regeneration of the city centre.

The newly completed avenue features a comprehensive transformation, including tree-lined streets, widened pavements finished with Caithness stone, segregated cycle lanes, and extensive green landscaping. This development provides 4,000 square metres of new public realm in the Holland and Pitt Street area, designed to complement substantial private investment in the immediate vicinity, notably hundreds of new-build homes.

The Avenues programme, part of the Scottish and UK Government-funded City Deal, is being rolled out across the city centre and represents the most significant physical transformation since the pedestrianisation of Buchanan Street in the 1970s. When fully complete, the programme, which includes the revitalisation of George Square, will establish a network of attractive and accessible streets, mirroring people-focused urban changes seen across Europe. The aim is to draw more residents, visitors, and investors to the city centre.

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Councillor Angus Millar, Glasgow City Council's Convenor for City Centre Recovery, hailed the completion: "The completion of the first full Avenue is a real milestone in the ongoing transformation of the city centre. And Glaswegians will see more delivered very shortly."

Councillor Millar further highlighted the collaborative investment: "The Holland and Pitt Street Avenue also show how public and private investment is working together to unlock opportunities across the city centre, creating vibrant and attractive new districts. Right now, our city centre is going through its biggest transition in half a century. The population is increasing, new sectors are emerging, investment is flowing in and infrastructure put in place. With the Holland and Pitt Avenue, we're beginning to see how that's shaping up."

The Holland Street Avenue project was delivered with £2.4m contributed by both the Scottish and UK Governments, supplemented by additional funding from developer contributions and Transport Scotland. Among the complementary private investments enhancing the area is Moda's Holland Park apartment building.

James Blakey, Moda Group Director of Planning and Engagement, commented on the project's impact: "The completion of the Avenues project surrounding Moda, Holland Park is a significant milestone in a transformation that has created greener, more pedestrian-friendly spaces that benefit residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Moda is proud to have supported these improvements, reinforcing our commitment to investing in the city's future and working in partnership with Glasgow City Council and other stakeholders to ensure our neighbourhoods and surrounding areas continue to thrive for generations to come."

The wider Glasgow City Region City Deal will see both the Scottish and UK Governments providing £500m in funding for infrastructure projects across the region.