Scotland’s first inner‑city retrofit campus transforms Victorian Glue Factory into low‑carbon community hub

More on this

1. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/25848852.glasgow-glue-factory-transformed-scotlands-first-net-zero-hub/?ref=rss – Please view link – unable to able to access data
2. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/historic-glasgow-landmark-reborn-scotland-113115430.html – The Glue Factory in Glasgow, built in 1891, has been transformed into Scotland’s first inner-city retrofit campus. Funded partly by £188,533 from SP Energy Networks’ Transmission Net Zero Fund, the 20,000 sq ft site now offers community space. The building, once home to the British and Foreign Aerated Water Company and the Scottish Adhesives Company, had been vacant for decades before its recent revival. The retrofit includes energy efficiency upgrades like external wall insulation, triple-glazed windows, insulated doors, air source heat pumps, and a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. Graham Campbell, director at SP Energy Networks, highlighted the transformation of historic buildings into future-fit workspaces and community hubs. The Glue Factory is part of a broader retrofit campus in Glasgow, focusing on reducing carbon emissions and transforming heritage buildings into low-carbon, modern spaces. This project follows the success of Civic House, another Agile City-led retrofit funded by SP Energy Networks’ Green Economy Fund, which now serves as a centre for social, cultural, and green enterprise. A shared energy monitoring system has been installed across both the Glue Factory and Civic House to track performance and be learned from. The refurbished Glue Factory now offers space for work, training, events, and community activities. The site will also support a new Net Zero Training Programme in partnership with local colleges and universities. The programme will host 140 sessions and engage more than 4,500 participants, including students, tradespeople, and community groups, to develop the skills required for retrofitting homes and buildings across Glasgow and beyond. Since 2018, Agile City has invested more than £2 million in developing retrofit-focused spaces. Rob Morrison, director at Agile City, stated that the funding from SP Energy Networks unlocked the full potential of their retrofit campus, making the Glue Factory a vibrant, inclusive space where people can work and learn. Together with their partners, they’ve set a new standard for retrofit projects in Scotland, helping create a community and business hub that’s warm, welcoming, and affordable.
3. https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/news/pages/sp_energy_networks_5m_fund_accelerates_community_climate_action.aspx – SP Energy Networks’ £5 million Transmission Net Zero Fund is accelerating community climate action across Scotland. The fund supports organisations aiming to decarbonise and achieve net zero targets, with projects ranging from installing low-carbon technology in community spaces to retrofitting 19th-century buildings using historic techniques. Launched in 2022, the fund prioritises communities at risk of being left behind in the journey to net zero emissions. Since its inception, the fund has enabled communities to develop project ideas through tailored workshops and feasibility reports. Agile City, a community interest company, received £188,000 to renovate Glasgow’s Glue Factory, transforming it into a ‘micro-power station’ that generates more energy than it consumes. The 20,000 sq ft site will serve as an affordable, multi-purpose space for community-led retrofit and energy projects. Agile City is partnering with Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) and City of Glasgow College to launch a net zero training programme, aiming to engage over 4,500 people in its first two years through training, events, and workshops. Rob Morrison, Director of Agile City, expressed pride in collaborating with BE-ST and City of Glasgow College to introduce the net zero training programme, equipping thousands with the skills and knowledge to achieve their own net zero goals.
4. https://sustainablebusinessmagazine.net/netzero/sp-energy-networks-fund-drives-net-zero-progress-in-scotland/ – SP Energy Networks’ £5 million Transmission Net Zero Fund is driving net zero progress in Scotland by supporting communities in their decarbonisation efforts. Launched in 2022, the fund provides financial backing for projects targeting net zero emissions, particularly in vulnerable areas. To date, £3.7 million has been awarded to 27 organisations, funding projects predicted to save 28,904 tonnes of CO2e. This is equivalent to driving around the Earth over 7,000 times in a standard car. The initiative has supported 16 tailored workshops and feasibility studies, enabling communities to refine their climate action strategies. Guy Jefferson, Transmission Managing Director at SP Energy Networks, highlighted the fund’s impact, stating that these projects support the most vulnerable members of communities and enable a more inclusive pathway to net zero. Notable projects include Agile City’s transformation of Glasgow’s Glue Factory into a ‘micro-power station’ and East Ayrshire Council’s establishment of an electric car club serving Cumnock, New Cumnock, and Muirkirk.
5. https://projectscot.com/2025/02/glasgows-lighthouse-to-be-transformed-into-net-zero-innovation-hub/ – Plans have been approved to transform The Lighthouse building in Glasgow city centre into a net zero innovation hub. Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the A-listed building was previously home to the Glasgow Herald and, from 1999, Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design, and the City. Glasgow City Council is negotiating with Sustainable Ventures (Scotland) Limited over a long-term lease for the 88% (5,424 sq ft) of the floorspace in the building that the local authority owns. Sustainable Ventures is affiliated with Sustainable Workspaces CIC, Europe’s largest ecosystem of climate tech startups, with 130 startups co-located at their HQ workspace in London. The project aims to secure private sector investment to transform the building into a net zero innovation hub, providing space for clean tech companies in Scotland to start up, scale up, and outgrow the facility. If negotiations are successful, there will be a financial commitment to repair the building and maintain public access, as well as deliver economic benefits through the growth of this thriving sector of the economy. Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for built heritage and development at Glasgow City Council, expressed delight at the plans to bring The Lighthouse back to full life, stating that the project could revitalise the building and provide space for hi-tech start-ups, aligning with Glasgow’s history of innovation.
6. https://www.retrofit-scotland.org/news/scotlands-national-retrofit-centre – Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre, launched in January 2024 by BE-ST, is undertaking a deep retrofit of the building to create a national centre dedicated to supporting the retrofit community across the country. The centre aims to make retrofit achievable at scale and to help build a future where it is more affordable, reliable, and accessible for everyone in Scotland. The transformation of Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre marks a significant milestone for Scotland’s built environment, with over 220,000 non-domestic buildings across the country requiring retrofit. The sector urgently needs clear, scalable examples of how deep retrofit can be delivered successfully. The centre will serve as the physical headquarters of Retrofit Scotland, a hub for training, collaboration, and consultancy, dedicated to supporting the retrofit community across the country.
7. https://agile-city.com/blog/agile-city-announces-business-route-map-to-net-zero/ – Agile City has announced its Business Route Map to Net Zero, aiming to create an inner-city retrofit campus to accelerate the transition towards net zero carbon emissions from the built environment by 2045. The organisation is committed to transforming forgotten or neglected buildings into sustainable spaces for Glasgow communities. Inspired by the United Nations’ Race to Zero Emissions, Agile City aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 90% by 2045. The route map outlines the organisation’s progress and future plans, including the retrofit of the Glue Factory and Civic House, and the development of a net zero training programme in partnership with Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) and City of Glasgow College.