Plans to transform an iconic Glasgow city centre building have been shown in new images.
In September 2020, we reported the the historic former Watt Brothers store had been sold ahead of a £20million rejuvenation plan.
Brothers Sandy and James Easdale took over the iconic Sauchiehall Street building which has been vacant since Watt Brothers fell into administration in 2019.
Then, it was understood the B-listed space was likely to be transformed into a mix use development comprising hotel and residential accommodation.
READ MORE: Former Watt Brothers sold and set for £20m rejuvenation plan
And the move is now gathering pace, with an application to convert the premises submitted to Glasgow City Council.
Planners will consider the 'retention of retail use to basement, ground and first (mezzanine) floor on North Building (corner of Sauchiehall Street and Hope Street)' alongside the 'change of use to all of South Building (corner of Bath Street and Hope Street) and upper floors of North Building to hotel', as well as an 'upwards extension of both buildings and link bridge'.
CGI images accompanying the application show the proposed look of the new 'luxury' city centre hotel, from both Sauchiehall Street and the Bath and Hope Street junction.
Summarising the plans for the development, the architects say: 'in brief, the proposals are to:
- Retain the retail use to the basement, ground and mezzanine levels of the North Building.
- Create a new hotel use to the remainder of the building, including the basement and ground floors of the South Building and the upper floors of both.
- Add additional floors to both buildings to achieve the appropriate amount of bedrooms to attract the quality of end-user need to deliver this project.
Documents also state the desire for 125 hotel bedrooms, however 'this would have necessitated an additional floor, which would have been more difficult to deal with from both architectural and streetscape/massing standpoints.'
The proposal also advises 'the key to delivering these proposals is securing an appropriate, high end hotel operator', adding 'a budget hotel operation cannot create a financial model capable of making these proposals stack up'.
The personnel at Silverfern Consultancy [operating on behalf of the owners] have a long history acting for hotel developers and operators at the high end of the market and have carried out initial discussions with a number of established operators.
A statement released in September 2020, when news of the the takeover was confirmed, said: "The landmark former Watt Brothers department store in Glasgow has been purchased by Sandy and James Easdale in a rejuvenation plan expected to cost more than £20million.
"The historic building, which is situated from Sauchiehall Street to Bath Street in the city centre, has been vacant since the store fell into administration last year.
"Stretching to more than 80,000 sq/ft, the McGill’s Buses tycoons reached a deal to save the art deco building with Watt Brothers’ administrators KPMG.
"Future planning for the building is already underway, with a mixed use development comprising hotel and residential accommodation the likely option. Early estimates suggest the project will cost at least £20million to transform the premises and in the process aid the revival of Sauchiehall Street.
"The Sauchiehall Street project brings the current property and construction projects being led by Sandy and James Easdale to around £400million."
Sandy Easdale commented: “This is a landmark building loved by generations of Glaswegians. It was sad to see the store close last year but when the opportunity arose to purchase the building and redevelop it for the future then we knew we had to take it.
“We believe the building has great potential for hotel and residential use and we’re already engaged with expert consultants to see what can be achieved. It has a proud past and we are certain it will have an even brighter future. This project will play an important part in reinvigorating this part of Sauchiehall Street and contributes to almost £400million of property and construction developments we currently have underway as a family.”
To see the plans in full, you can view the Glasgow City Council online planning portal here.
