‘Repair, Replace, or Demolish’ the Woodside Viaducts – Impact on Agile City Campus
Transport Scotland is deciding whether to ‘Repair, Replace, or Demolish’ the Woodside Viaducts, which carry the M8 directly beside Civic House at the Agile City Campus.
Since March of 2021, 5 years exactly, repair on the support structures of the Woodside Viaducts have been an ongoing and costly issue. Now, Transport Scotland is considering what the future will look like for this part of the M8. The M8 has a massive impact on Glasgow’s green space, bringing more grey than green to this part of the city.
You can see the full plan here.
Image from Glasgow Motorway Archive
How does this impact the Agile City Campus?
The construction of the Glasgow M8 cut directly through long standing communities, including Cowcaddens, Charing Cross, and Anderston. For North Glasgow, where our campus is located, this has caused long term impacts. Suddenly, access to the city centre was cut off, and buildings were brought down for this construction.
Image from Glasgow Motorway Archive, view looking east with West Princess Street in the foreground and stow college on the right. Civic House can be seen in the top left.
This was a massive blow to the historical and cultural centres of North Glasgow. Industries closed, tenements were demolished, and Phoenix Park was destroyed.
Image from Glasgow Motorway Archive. View looking west showing the cleared sites of Woodside / Cowcaddens to the north of the M8. Civic House can be seen at the bottom of the image.
Civic House sits on Civic Street, an important gateway close to the M8 that connects the centre of Glasgow to the North of Glasgow. The original idea for Agile City’s Civic House, formerly a printing works, was to transform it into a vibrant space that welcomes people to the area. It is a workspace, venue, and canteen dedicated to fostering a creative and collaborative environment for its members.
The potential demolition of the M8 is an opportunity to undo decades of urban division. By replacing concrete with greenery, this could finally bring a greener, more breathable future to the Agile City Campus and the surrounding area.
Civic House, when previously used as ‘Civic Press LTD’ – a radical printing press originally built in 1920’s. Image source unknown.
Events and Feedback Forms
Public Engagement Events are being held to help determine if they will take the time to continue the repairs, the incredible cost to completely replace, or divert traffic and demolish the viaducts completely.
While the in-person events have passed, a virtual exhibition room is available for anyone unable to attend the in-person events.
Feedback forms will be available at the in-person events and also online via the virtual exhibition room. Feedback should be submitted no later than Wednesday 25 March 2026.
Lateral North: Reconnect Glasgow
Lateral North is launching Reconnect Glasgow to ask Transport Scotland to rethink its approach and meaningfully engage with local people, communities, businesses and organisations.
Their project, Reconnect Glasgow, asks local people, young people, communities and Glaswegians to develop a collective creative voice in response to this opportunity.
Lateral North is asking people throughout Glasgow to respond to ‘design briefs’ that reimagine what the land at the M8 Woodside Viaducts could be. Please visit their website for more information and see the following documents for how to submit ideas.
Lateral North is keen to offer a collective creative response from Glaswegians and they need your help!
For more information, visit Transport Scotland’s website, or get in touch with Lateral North.