Nothing quite gets my goat like bureaucracy and red tape getting in the way of progress.
When it comes to my business dealings in commercial property, you won’t be surprised to hear there’s a lot of planning snags to untie and hurdles to jump to get to where you want to go.
That’s why I was so interested in a trio of stories which popped up on my phone this week involving exciting new developments across the central belt.
I was intrigued because, in my opinion, there is a lot our big cities could learn from our burgeoning towns when it comes to growth and serving the needs of the community.
While developments are being rejected and held up in Edinburgh and Glasgow, in Paisley – Scotland’s largest town – there are exciting plans afoot.
Renfrewshire Council has given the green light for a new 16-unit aparthotel in the town centre – an area which is going through a great regeneration.
After years of being left behind, council bosses appear to finally be bucking up their ideas as they give the town a lift and attract business back to its streets.
A tired office building on the town’s Glasgow Road will be transformed by Dunfermline-based firm Chapel Street into ‘contemporary’ and ‘high-quality’ accommodation.
However, just along the road in Glasgow’s West End, the picture is very different.
A similar development on Byers Road, which aims to turn to a car park into much-needed student accommodation for the nearby University of Glasgow, is facing stern opposition from the public.
Hillhead Community Council are desperately trying to put the roadblocks up on the proposed development, citing concerns over public transport and parking access for visitors to the area.
Thankfully, Glasgow City Council have rejected their petition opposing the student flats and have seen the development for what it is – an opportunity for growth and to help ease the strain on the private rental market.
Where towns like Paisley are embracing change and opportunities to boost their local economy and help meet the needs of residents and visitors, the people of the West End seem to be less concerned about the overall wellbeing of their patch.
Their attitude towards the 260-unit student village is entirely unhelpful and, quite frankly, bizarre; especially given the council have put plans in place to address their concerns over public transport and vehicle access to the busy thoroughfare.
That area of the town and Glasgow Uni are innately bound and reliant on each other to thrive. Continuing to work together to help accommodate students and increase the University’s capacity, reputation and coffers can only benefit the area.
Lastly, and most baffling, we travel down the M8 to the capital where the City of Edinburgh Council are actively rejecting student accommodation plans.
Proposals to build 80 student flats on the site of the Murrayfield Sports Bar in the Gorgie area of the city have now been rejected for a third time.
It appears the sticking point is concerns over the site being at risk of a one in 200-year flood.
For a development to be rejected on this basis, with such short odds of flood waters striking and especially when the surrounding area is already packed with neighbouring buildings, is astonishing.
Similarly to the situation in Glasgow, it appears that council bosses are happy to let the student housing crisis and private rental market spiral out of control in favour of bureaucracy.
Instead of helping developers find solutions, the council continue to pick holes in their plans and more students choosing to continue their education in our stunning capital are left at a higher risk of having nowhere to go.
It’s not a good look for Scotland, the education system or our biggest cities.
While smaller towns like Paisley continue to bounce back from decades in the mire, it appears Glasgow and Edinburgh are destined to continue to ignore the needs of its residents as they let pencil pushing get in the way of progress.
SIDE
Golf in Scotland isn’t just booming – it’s evolving. It’s no longer a past-time hobby for the elite, but a savvy business move that taps into tourism, local engagement and the growing appetite for experience-led leisure.
The recent successful launch of Golf-X in Ayr is the perfect example. The venue combines the fun of the sport with great food, music and cocktails, proving it can be profitable and bang on trend for anyone who wants a piece of the action.
But the smartest play yet comes from the Home of Golf itself. St Andrews Links Trust has just teed up ‘Drive’, a bold new initiative offering Scottish residents the chance to play the legendary Old Course for just £42.50 – a dramatic drop from the usual £340 green fee.
Between May and October, 179 discounted tee times will be available across four of St Andrews’ iconic courses, giving 716 local golfers the chance to walk the same fairways as the pros. And this all comes from existing visitor allocations, not at the expense of high-paying tourists.
With some UK courses now charging up to £1,000 a round, St Andrews Links Trust is flipping the script. By investing in access today, they are future-proofing the sport, as well as building loyalty. It’s a clever business model that values long-term sustainability over short-term gain.
Scotland is capitalising on this growing trend, not just with clubs in hand, but with clear commercial vision. The message is simple – make golf for everyone, and everyone wins.
LAUGH
Only in Glasgow could a battered sausage dressed up as a French pastry become a viral sensation.
City centre chippy Blue Lagoon has unveiled their latest limited-time creation, and it’s sure to be a delicacy that will clog your TikTok timeline and arteries alike.
Picture the ‘Sausage Éclair’ – a battered pork sausage, sliced down the middle and dripping with cheese and curry sauce. It’s no wonder that bosses at the chippy have coined it the country’s “new guilty pleasure”.
In the age of influencer bait, Blue Lagoon has absolutely nailed it – they have managed to create a low cost, highly shareable PR stunt that takes a cheeky twist on tradition.
Tourists will queue. Locals will scoff. Instagram will explode. And Blue Lagoon will laugh all the way to the fryer.
WEEP
I was disheartened to hear that just 29 per cent of Scottish small businesses are predicting growth this year, according to a recent survey by Novuna Business Finance.
It marks the lowest percentage rate in four years, and whilst it doesn’t necessarily signal panic stations, it does mark a clear sign of caution from those in the industry.
Confidence has taken a knock, with concerns over economic volatility, potential tax rises and global tariffs all adding to the uncertainty, and it’s certainly a shift from the relative stability we saw just last summer.
Small businesses need clarity and consistency. When the outlook is shaky, even the most resilient firms can hesitate.
