by Graeme Murray, Evening Times
Two hotel developments that will transform Glasgow's
skyline are set to go before planners. If approved, they
will mean massive changes near Bath Street and the Broomielaw.
Bath Street Investments wants to create an 11-storey hotel and
office building to rise from the ashes of The Shack nightclub.
The iconic Greek-style John Burnett landmark, at the junction of
Bath Street and Pitt Street, which dated to 1855, was razed after a
massive blaze in 2004 and has been a gap site since.
Pieces of the building's distinctive pillars can still be seen
among piles of rubble which remain at the location.
The planned scheme features a 150-room hotel, 30,000 sq ft
office and shops at street level.
The original application for a 15-storey mixed-use development
was reduced by four floors after complaints about loss of daylight
and privacy from residents.
Charing Cross Housing Association, the New Glasgow Society and
Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland objected to the
proposals.
And six letters of objection were received from neighbouring
residents and businesses who focused on inadequate parking,
increased traffic congestion and the loss of views along Bath
Street.
One objector said: "The building is more than double the height
of 203 Pitt Street and is higher than the Glasgow School of Art
Mackintosh Building and would adversely affect views towards this
building, as well as along the magnificent terraces of Bath Street
to St Stephen's Church steeple."
Another said: "The building is too tall, represents
over-development of the site and is out of proportion with and
sympathetic with its surroundings."
The original 216-bedroom hotel scheme designed by RMJM
architects was submitted in January and incorporated an art gallery
and cafe, which have now been scrapped.
The number of rooms between the first and fifth floors has also
been reduced and office accommodation between the sixth and 10th
floors cut from 45,000sq ft to 30,000sq ft.
Glasgow City Council's planning committee is expected to
recommend approving the scheme after changes to the original
proposals were introduced in response to objections.
Plans for a second scheme will also be considered that could see
Glasgow getting its first twin tower development.
Proposals by Edinburgh-based Frasers Property (Brown Street)
would see 17-storey and 13-storey buildings rising from a gap site
in the heart of the International Financial Services District.
The mixed-use scheme, also designed by RMJM, will be made up of
two buildings that will provide 206 residential apartments in one
block and a 135-room serviced apartment hotel in the other.
If approved, the development between Carrick Street and Brown
Street would also feature a business conference, restaurant and gym
built on land that would be landscaped.
The north block would accommodate the flats while the south
tower, which is the smaller of the two, would provide serviced
hotel apartments. Secure parking spaces for 55 cars would be
created in the basement of both blocks.
The scheme received one letter of objection, which had no
specific grounds.
But the project did prompt concerns from archaeology experts,
who said it had the potential to disturb a prehistoric settlement
and historic artefacts from an early pottery factory called
Delftfield Pottery.
A report to the planning committee said: "West of Scotland
Archaeological Service maintains the proposed development has the
potential to adversely affect sensitive archaeological remains
relating to prehistoric settlement, the early town harbour and one
of the city's most important industrial pottery factories."
Archaeologists fear the early years of Delftfield Pottery may
have extended into the proposed development site.
The body attached a condition asking developers keep a "watching
brief" on archaeological aspects of the site in response to its
concerns.
Regeneration bosses are delighted developers are continuing to
invest in the city during the recession.
Steve Inch, executive director of the council's development and
regeneration services department, said: "The proposed development
by Frasers Property is one of a number of current applications for
office, residential, hotel and retail commercial developments in
the International Financial Services District.
"It represents continued private sector confidence during a
difficult economic period, supporting the city's growing tourism,
conferencing and exhibition centre sector, as well as the
Commonwealth Games in 2014."
Reproduced with the permission of the Herald & Times
Group.