Designed in consultation with neighbours, resident artists, staff and the wider local community, 3,200m² of wasteland will be repurposed as green space. After being registered as derelict by Glasgow City Council for over a decade, the land is being completely remodelled into a truly shared space for the community to grow, plant, play and create.

In collaboration with sustainable food collective Propagate, SWG3 held an intensive – and creative – consultation process. Through surveys, canvassing, workshops and a garden party held in the grounds, an incredible amount of information and ideas were gathered on everything from bees to biodiversity, walkways to wildfires.

A spacious outdoor terrace has also been built, stretching out beneath the warehouse windows and featuring a sculpture designed by award-winning Scottish artist Jaqueline Donachie. Titled STEP, the artwork will be installed on the terrace as modular seating units. Initially created for Glasgow International 2021 it explores the relationship between built environments and the different types of bodies accessing them.

As well as addressing a known demand for public greenspace and growing space in the area, the garden is a key part in SWG3’s vision for the future, which includes the site going completely net-zero.

Across the rest of the year, work will begin on bringing to life the plans for the rest of the space, including lawn areas, growing and food production beds, a sheltered gathering space, sensory planting area and a woodland walkway.

The garden project has been made possible thanks to £511,037 of generous funding from a combination of funders including the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund and VKR Foundation.

Andrew Fleming-Brown, MD of SWG3, said: “We’re delighted to be able to reveal our plans for The Garden. It’s an integral part of our vision in creating a truly world class cultural and circular campus, as well as an exciting way for SWG3 to become even more involved with our local community. As a project, The Garden holds so much potential to collaborate, learn and create and we can’t wait to welcome visitors later in the year.”