Plans approved to convert historic Glasgow Cross building into flats

An A-listed building in Glasgow city centre could be converted into flats after plans to renovate the long-vacant site were given the go ahead.

The six-storey Mercat building at Glasgow Cross was sold by the council's arms-length firm City Property in February last year.

Council planners have now approved plans from the new owner, Lee Marshall of Cat B Works, to covert the site into 39 flats.

Initially, the developer had planned to provide 44 flats, with residential use on the ground floor. However after discussions with council officials, commercial use will remain at that level.

The application said having commercial use there would retain "a more sympathetic and traditional ground floor frontage to all three street elevations".

The Mercat building was designed by architect Graham Henderson, who was once Charles Rennie Mackintosh's assistant.

According to the application, plans to reimagine Glasgow Cross were "put on hold when war broke out" but were revisited in the 1920s as part of a "huge regeneration programme". It was at this point that the Mercat building was introduced.

The application states the "vast majority of the exterior of the building will remain unchanged" with the stone work "repaired where necessary".

It adds the proposal will be "a positive contribution to the region, and an important and strategic investment by the applicant to meet current and future housing needs".

Calton Community Council previously submitted a "partial objection" to the project while welcoming the ambition to bring the building back into productive use.

It was opposed to residential use on the ground floor and raised privacy concerns over the roof terrace, particularly for flats opposite on Gallowgate.

Members also believe a car-free development is an "unrealistic" assumption, and could exacerbate "existing parking pressure in the area".

A letter from John Kerr, managing director of VR Simulators, said, as the "only existing tenant remaining" in the Mercat building, he supports the redevelopment plan.

Another letter of support added: "This iconic building has remained empty for too long making it a vandalism and fire risk.

"What better way to reimagine its use than by converting it for residential use, bringing people back into the city."

Both listed building and planning consent have been granted by the council. There are expected to be 33 one-bedroom and six studio flats.

Reporting by Local Democracy Reporting Service reporter Drew Sandelands.