Glasgow city centre visits down after Union Corner fire

Footfall measures the number of people in the city centre for any reason.

The figure fell dramatically for a few days after the fire when transport was badly disrupted and a large part of the area near the fire was completely closed off.

But hopes there would be a full recovery once the worst of the disruption was over have proved too optimistic.

The data is included in the chamber’s latest Glasgow Pulse report, external. Overall the chamber said the total drop since the fire was now one million, including a 200,000 drop in May.

Daily footfall figures vary widely. The chamber said the average was about 175,000, but on a Saturday it can reach 210,000 while a Sunday might fall to about 150,000.

The chamber said monthly trends were more significant than the daily figures.

The drop of about 300,000 in April does however imply that there were 10,000 fewer in the city centre on an average day in April 2026 compared to April last year.

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce deputy chief executive Richard Muir said: “Falling footfall is a big issue and after a promising start to the year, since the Union Street fire footfall has fallen well short of figures of pre-pandemic and on last year.

“Since the fire, there have been one million fewer people in the city centre than last year.

“That is very worrying given the fragile nature of sectors reliant on passing trade.”