A‑listed Glasgow Cross landmark given go‑ahead to be converted into flats

A Glasgow city centre landmark can be converted into flats as plans to renovate the A-listed building have been given the go-ahead.

Council planners have approved a bid to turn the six-storey Mercat Building at Glasgow Cross into almost 40 homes. It was sold by the council’s arms-length firm, City Property, in February last year.

The new owner, Lee Marshall of Cat B Works, intends to create 39 flats for sale in the building. Initially, the developer had planned to provide 44 flats, with residential use on the ground floor.

However, plans show that, after discussions with council officials, commercial use will remain at this level. The application stated this 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 also states the “vast majority of the exterior of the building will remain unchanged” with the stone work “repaired where necessary”.

It adds that 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 had submitted a “partial objection” to the project while welcoming the ambition to bring the long vacant building back into productive use.

It was opposed to residential use on the ground floor and also 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”.

The application states access to the roof terrace will be restricted to between 8am and 9pm and will be controlled by a “personalised” keypad.

A letter from John Kerr, managing director of VR Simulators, said that, 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.