The Glasgow Buildings Guardian Committee, founded by the Glasgow Institute of Architects in 1957, incorporating representatives of the city’s Amenity Societies was formed to try to protect the noble architecture that we had inherited, from the post war desire of politicians, traffic engineers and others to sweep away the old in favour of the new.  The New Glasgow Society, also formed about that time took a wider view of Planning and the state of the city and acted in parallel in informing the public of what was happening to the city in that revolutionary period. 

In 1972 the then Glasgow Corporation approved the setting up of an “Amenity Liaison Committee” chaired by a senior member of the Planning Department, consisting of the main amenity bodies in the city.  This group met every eight weeks to discuss current matters of planning and environmental interest.  Presentations of planning proposals by developers and their architects were discussed and later the Guardians, (now The Glasgow Architecture Committee), wrote their findings to the City Council.

This method of consultation has been refined and developed over the years, until today the bodies and their representatives are a particularly impressive group.   It has more than once been evaluated by the Scottish Office which has commended it as a model for other Authorities to follow.   Now known as the Glasgow Urban Design Panel, this is a direct descendant of The Amenity Liaison Committee.