Revamp plan for Glasgow’s Hielanman’s Umbrella landmark put on hold

A planned revamp of Glasgow’s landmark “Hielanman’s Umbrella” – a glass fronted railway bridge near Central Station – has been put on hold.

Architects Dress for the Weather were commissioned in 2024 to create a fresh design for the site, which would have seen multi-coloured shops and neon lights introduced.

The area covers the bridge along with a small number of shops and venues beneath it, including the former Arches nightclub.

However, the rail operator said the project was now paused following a review, and Glasgow City Council said it was “reconsidering the future” for the area as part of a wider review into Central Station.

The nickname Hielanman’s Umbrella – or Highlandman’s umbrella – arose in the late 19th and early 20th Century when it became a popular meeting place for Gaelic-speaking residents of the city.

Thousands had moved to Glasgow after the Highland Clearances, and the bridge, which opened in 1879, served as a place to meet up in town with the added advantage of providing some shelter from the rain.