International Financial Services District

The International Financial Services District (IFSD) (Scottish Gaelic: Sgìre Seirbheisean Ionmhais Eadar-nàiseanta) began being marketed and developed in succession to the Broomielaw Project pioneered by the Scottish Development Agency in the late 1980s. A public-private financial district in Glasgow, Scotland; attracting inward investment for leading international financial services companies and a re-location option for existing Glasgow-based companies, seeking to expand their operations.

International Financial Services District
Sgìre Seirbheisean Ionmhais Eadar-nàiseanta (Scottish Gaelic)
Current logo of the IFSD
Part of the IFSD as viewed from West Street, 2011
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeMultiple buildings containing office space
LocationBroomielaw
Town or cityGlasgow
CountryScotland
Coordinates55°51′24″N 4°15′45″W / 55.85677°N 4.26241°W / 55.85677; -4.26241
Current tenantsDirect Line Group Chubb, Atkins Credit Suisse, Direct Line, Barclays, BNP Paribas, JPMorgan Chase, NFU Mutual, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, SWIP, esure, Scottish and Southern Energy, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Department for Work & Pensions, Aon
Groundbreaking2000–2001
Construction started2001
Completed2003
Opened2003
Renovated2018–present, new buildings under construction
Cost£1 billion
ClientScottish Enterprise
OwnerScottish Enterprise, Glasgow City Council
ManagementScottish Government, Scottish Development International, Skills Development Scotland, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Glasgow Economic Leadership, BT and numerous, financial institutions, property developers and investors
Grounds3 million sq ft (across multiple buildings)[1]
Website
www.ifsdglasgow.co.uk

The district is over 3 million sq ft of office space which has been developed at the district since the start of the project in 2001.[2] Nicknamed "Wall Street on the Clyde", it ranked in the top 40 of international financial districts, ahead of cities including Brussels, Madrid, Helsinki, Milan and Dublin.[3] Today, it is a major hub in Glasgow for international business, as well as a major contributor to the Economy of Scotland. Notable tenants include Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase and Barclays.[4]

The separate marketing of the area has now ended, in 2023, and city promotion is part of InvestGlasgow.[5] headquartered in Glasgow City Council.

History edit

The long-term decline of the old harbour area of Glasgow and streets off Broomielaw left largely-vacated premises and former bonded warehouses now loosely connected to Glasgow's traditional core business district centred on Blythswood Hill at the western end of the city centre.[6]

Planning led by Scottish Enterprise, as successors to the Scottish Development Agency, and Glasgow City Council has helped create space for 28,000 employees, this measure being recognised as vital to the city's economic fortunes. In order to develop a fully serviced financial services district and its long term potential, significant investment was granted in order to create the "right environment".[7]

Definition edit

No official boundary of the IFSD exists; originally it referred to the approximately 1 square kilometre area of the city centre bounded by the M8 motorway to the west, the River Clyde the south, Hope Street to the east, and Bothwell Street to the north - also parts of Blythswood Hill, and the south eastern fringe of Anderston. This has given rise to the area's nicknames in the popular press: the Square Kilometre (in reference to the "square mile" of the City of London), and more the popular and widely used Wall Street On Clyde.[8]

As originally anticipated, the district extended onto the south bank of the Clyde following the regeneration of Bridge Wharf and construction of the Buchanan Wharf complex in Tradeston.

Economic Impact edit

Since its beginnings in 2001, the International Financial Services District has grown to become a major contributor to the Economy of Scotland, and by 2023, additional buildings, such as 1 Atlantic Square and Buchanan Wharf have been completed. Major international companies with either headquarters or offices within the International Financial Services District include Aon, Arthur J Gallagher, Ashurst and New Galexy, AXA Business Inusrance, Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclay's Bank, BNP Paribas, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, British Telecom, Clydesdale Bank, Eaton Corporation, First Data Corporation, HML, HSBC, Hymans Robertson, NFU Mutual, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, the Student Loans Company and Tesco Bank.[9]

Buildings & Notable Residents edit

Completed and operational edit

 
Offices of Morgan Stanley at the corner of Douglas Street, part of the IFSD
 
Development at The Cuprum, typical of recent developments in the IFSD
Site Tenant(s)
14-18 Cadogan Street Direct Line Group
200 Broomielaw Vacant
6 Atlantic Quay Credit Suisse
Direct Line
Aurora Building Barclays
BNP Paribas
Alhambra House JPMorgan Chase
Centenary House NFU Mutual
122 Waterloo Street Morgan Stanley
45 Waterloo Street JPMorgan Chase
Cornerstone Scottish Widows Investment Partnership
Equinox esure
One Waterloo Street SSE
3 Atlantic Quay Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
1 Atlantic Quay Department for Work & Pensions
Sentinel Building Aon
Sixty7 unoccupied
Buchanan Wharf Barclay's Bank
Student Loans Company
1 Atlantic Square HM Revenue and Customs
2 Atlantic Square Atkins
BDO Global
Burness Paull
Siemens
177 Bothwell Street Clydesdale Bank
Virgin Money[10]

Under construction edit

Name Area Completion Date Status
33 Cadogan Street 300,000 sq ft[11] 2025 Under Construction

Transport edit

Railway edit

The IFSD is connected by five railway stations, with routes that reach regionally and nationally.

Subway Rail edit

The IFSD is connected with two Glasgow Subway stations. The Glasgow Subway the world's third oldest underground metro railway in the world. The two stations that cover the IFSD are:

Road edit

The IFSD has links to the nearby M8 Motorway, which runs through Central Glasgow. The motorway connects the city with Edinburgh, Livingston, Glasgow Airport, Paisley, Erskine Bridge and Greenock.

Pedestrian edit

The Tradeston Bridge, completed in 2009, allows access by foot or bicycle over the Clyde between the IFSD and the Tradeston district, a feature which was previously lacking from the area requiring pedestrians to make an 800 metres (875 yd) detour via the George V Bridge to reach the same point.

References edit

  1. ^ "Business Relocation – Facts about Glasgow's Financial District - IFSD".
  2. ^ "Business Relocation – Facts about Glasgow's Financial District - IFSD".
  3. ^ "Wall Street on the Clyde' in world Top 40". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Business Relocation – Facts about Glasgow's Financial District - IFSD".
  5. ^ https://www.investglasgow.com/
  6. ^ "International Financial Services District". Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  7. ^ "International Financial Services District". Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Wall Street on the Clyde' in world Top 40". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  9. ^ "International Financial Services District". Glasgow City Council. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  10. ^ "See the new Clydesdale Bank base in Glasgow... complete with rooftop running track". Insider. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  11. ^ "McLaughlin & Harvey wins £200m Glasgow office block". Construction News. Retrieved 27 November 2023.

External links edit