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Egyptian Halls could become hotel as council lines up developer

News imageThe Alexander Thomson Society A facade showing Greek-style arches on the front of a tall building.The Alexander Thomson Society
The Egyptian Halls could become a hotel under proposals from property firm Ediston

A category A-listed Glasgow building that has lain vacant for over 30 years could become a hotel under new proposals.

The Egyptian Halls on Union Street was designed by legendary Scottish architect Alexander "Greek" Thomson over 150 years ago, but has been on the buildings-at-risk register since 1990.

Glasgow City Council last year launched a compulsory purchase order (CPO) process to take over the site, and has lined up Edinburgh-based property firm Ediston as the preferred bidder.

Ediston would seek to convert the ground floor - currently home to shops - and first floor into leisure uses, with the vacant upper floors becoming a hotel.

Glasgow City Council said it chose the plan as it "scored significantly higher than the other proposals in all criteria, have a clear management and team structure and include a defined timeline for development."

The local authority claimed the company's plans would secure the future of the building for the long-term.

The plan would see "minimal structural alterations" to the building, with in-principle commitments already secured from potential new occupiers of the lower floors and an international hotel operator for the upper floors.

A report said the bid is the "strongest proposal to achieve the proper planning of the area, contribute to the regeneration of the surrounding area and secure the future of this A-listed building".

Councillors on Glasgow's contracts and property committee will decide whether to grant 'preferred developer' status to Ediston at a meeting next Thursday.

News imageGlasgow City Council Scaffolding and canvas cover a wide building on a busy street. Traffic waits behind red lights and pedestrians walk on the pavement under the scaffold.Glasgow City Council
Scaffolding has been in front of the Egyptian Halls for about 15 years

Three bids in total were received, with the other proposals coming from the current owners — two companies run by Dundee businessman Derek Souter and his partners, called Union Street Developments and Union Street Properties — and another firm, LPT/Lola Ltd.

Souter and the city council have been in long-running discussions over the building for decades, to the extent a previous CPO was attempted in 1996.

The Egyptian Halls has had scaffolding around the site for at least 15 years, something Souter previously said was to protect the public.

If preferred developer status is granted next week, negotiations could start over a back-to-back agreement with Ediston.

This could see the council buy the building before transferring ownership to the Edinburgh firm.

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, the council's convener for built heritage and development, said: "Identifying a compelling, detailed and well-progressed proposal for the Egyptian Halls is key to securing a future for this architectural masterpiece while giving new life and new purposes to Glasgow's built heritage.

"By their very nature CPOs are lengthy and complex. But it's important for Glasgow's past — and its present and future — that we get this process right and bring this incredible building back to the heart of city life."