Artists and campaigners have rallied outside the office of Glasgow City Council’s arm’s-length property body in a protest over rent hikes at Trongate 103.
The demonstration at City Property coincided with the deadline given to the seven organisations based in the Merchant City building by the quango.
Trongate 103 demo at City Property in George Street (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ)
Protesters held placards and called for urgent intervention from Glasgow City Council, arguing that the terms being imposed by its arm’s-length property company are financially unviable for the charities that operate from the site.
The stand-off centres on plans to introduce a new five-year lease that would see the group pay rent of £4 per square foot alongside full service charges.
Tenants in the building say this combination would increase overall costs by nearly four times.
Trongate 103 demo at City Property in George Street (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ)
According to the Trongate 103 Tenants’ Forum, the seven organisations would collectively face annual occupancy costs of around £700,000 under the new model — requiring them to find an additional £560,000 each year to remain in the building.
Campaigners argue the scale of the increase fundamentally shifts the purpose of the building from being publicly funded cultural infrastructure to a revenue-generating commercial asset.
In briefing documents shared with The Herald, the tenants say the proposals would force them to both fund the running of the building and generate significant rental income for the landlord on top.
They had been told to agree to the new terms by noon on Friday or else risk being locked out on Monday
Trongate 103 demo at City Property in George Street (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ)
Trongate 103, which opened in 2009 following £8.5 million of public investment, is home to a cluster of organisations including Glasgow Print Studio, Street Level Photoworks, Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre and Project Ability.
High-profile figures have also weighed in, including former Creative Scotland visual arts head Amanda Catto, who accused city leaders of a “terrible dereliction of duty” over the situation.
Trongate 103 demo at City Property in George Street (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ)
The dispute has been further inflamed by claims that the current proposals diverge significantly from an independent modelling study commissioned by the council and Creative Scotland.
That study suggested that while tenants might be able to cover running costs through service charges, any additional rent would need to remain modest — potentially around £2 per square foot.
However, tenants say the final proposal does not reflect those findings and is based on outdated cost assumptions that have since increased sharply.
Trongate 103 demo at City Property in George Street (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ)
They also dispute City Property’s characterisation of the process, arguing that negotiations effectively ended before Notices to Quit were issued in February, leaving organisations with little time to assess the financial implications or explore alternatives.
City Property insists it is not evicting tenants and that the notices are a routine step to allow new leases to be issued.
Trongate 103 demo at City Property in George Street (Image: Gordon Terris/NQ)
Several organisations are preparing exit strategies, while one — GMAC Film — has confirmed it will relocate to new premises in the city’s Anderston area.
A spokeswoman for City Property told the BBC that the tenants were being offered a “considerable discount on commercial rates” for the building.
She said: “City Property are clear that the rental rate being proposed for the tenants of 103 Trongate is significantly below market levels.
“We are well aware of the status of the tenant organisations located within 103 Trongate and we are not treating them as commercial tenants.”
