A £14 million Scottish Government funding package has brought the long-awaited reopening of Glasgow’s People’s Palace and Winter Gardens a step closer but the future roadmap for the historic building remains unclear.
Ministers have announced up to £14m in conditional support for the restoration of the landmark on Glasgow Green, providing a substantial boost to a project previously estimated to cost £35.9m.
The new commitment comes on top of £19.55m in funding contributions from Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Herald reports this morning that the intervention comes after concerns over the future of the project and the timetable for reopening one of Glasgow’s best-known cultural attractions. Arts journalist Brian Ferguson writes that a full-scale revamp of the People’s Palace and Winter will cost at least £50 million and will not be complete until the end of 2029, according to a revised timetable for the project.
Glasgow Life, who operate the city’s museums and cultural sites, say they are continuing to explore further funding opportunities and the final cost will not be known until the design and procurement process is completed.
The People’s Palace closed in April 2024 to allow major surveys and investigative work to take place. The Winter Gardens had already been closed to the public since 2019 because of concerns over the condition of the structure.
The project had originally been expected to allow the attraction to reopen in 2027.
That target was subsequently abandoned, with Glasgow Life confirming earlier this year that the timetable, options and cost estimates were continuing to evolve. A new reopening date has yet to be announced.
The Scottish Government’s £14m commitment removes an element of uncertainty surrounding the project, although the money is not yet an unconditional grant.
Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life must submit a final business case and meet Scottish public-finance and subsidy-control requirements before the full funding is released.
The project is intended to restore both the Category A-listed museum and the enormous glasshouse behind it while completely reimagining how the story of Glasgow and its people is presented.
The People’s Palace opened in 1898 and was created as a cultural and social centre for people living in the city’s East End.
Its collections tell the story of how Glaswegians lived, worked and spent their leisure time, with objects, photographs, prints and films documenting the city and its people.
Before the building closed in 2024, its collection was documented, packed and moved to Glasgow Museums Resource Centre and Kelvin Hall so detailed investigation of the building could begin.
The concept-design stage has since been completed and work has been progressing on the layout of the building and its future galleries, alongside plans for catering, retail and museum displays.
Glasgow Life says the redevelopment will create a greener, more accessible and community-led museum, with Glaswegians involved in shaping the new displays.
The Winter Gardens are a crucial part of the project. The huge glasshouse has been inaccessible for years and its deteriorating condition has been one of the most difficult elements of finding a long-term solution for the site.
The new government funding is specifically intended to help protect the Winter Gardens as a community green space as well as safeguard the historic collections inside the museum. Ministers also expect the restored attraction to increase visitor footfall and support jobs and businesses in Glasgow’s East End.
Culture Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “I am pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government has announced up to £14 million in conditional support to the refurbishment of the People’s Palace and secure its reopening to the public.
“This is about far more than bricks and mortar. The People’s Palace has welcomed generations of Glaswegians as well as visitors from further afield, and this investment will ensure they can continue to enjoy it for decades to come. It will also protect historic collections which tell the story of Glasgow’s working people, safeguard the much-loved Winter Gardens as a space for the whole community, and support jobs and footfall in the city’s East End.
“This conditional support reflects an exceptional cross-sector partnership and demonstrates what can be achieved when government, funders and cultural organisations work together around a shared vision.
“The People’s Palace is a cherished part of Glasgow’s story and Scotland’s cultural heritage. This investment demonstrates our support for preserving that legacy, and I look forward to seeing the refurbishment plans move forward.”
Glasgow City Council’s Convener for Culture, Sport and International Relations, and Chair of Glasgow Life, Bailie Annette Christie said: “The People’s Palace and Winter Gardens are undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation. It’s a complex and ambitious project that has been co-created with the people of Glasgow and will secure the long-term future of one of the city’s most treasured and nationally important cultural spaces.
“We are grateful to the Scottish Government for this welcome investment, which is a significant vote of confidence in our plans and brings us an important step closer to creating an inclusive, accessible and world-class social history museum and visitor destination in the city’s East End.
“Glasgow has a strong track record of delivering major cultural and heritage developments, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government and wider partners to deliver a revitalised People’s Palace and Winter Gardens. When complete, the project will reflect the aspirations of local communities, provide new opportunities for learning, participation and employment, support tourism, and boost our economy.
“Above all, it will ensure these remarkable buildings, which hold a unique place in Glasgow’s history, can continue to play an important role in the life of Glaswegians for generations to come.”
Glasgow Life will pursue public and private funding for the remaining costs. The organisation has recently begun preparing to appoint a multidisciplinary Museum Design and Delivery Team to take the redevelopment forward. A procurement notice published in July said the team would support the redevelopment of both the People’s Palace and Winter Garden.
The key question now is when Glaswegians will be able to return.