Plans to convert one of Glasgow's listed buildings into a £20 million hotel have taken a step forward.
Union Street Properties Ltd, owners of the Category A-listed
Egyptian Halls, have been granted Listed Building Consent by
Historic Scotland.
And Accor Hotels has revised its proposals to create a four-star
venue, rather than the three-star originally planned.
Dundee businessman Derek Souter, the developer behind USP's
Egyptian Halls Project, said: "This reappraisal, which we had
always pushed for, vindicates our long-held belief that Union
Street has significant development potential. According to Glasgow
City Marketing Bureau, there is a need for an extra 17,000 hotel,
guest house and bed-and-breakfast bedrooms in the city and
surrounding area."
Accor Hotels, managed by Longrose Buccleuch, had planned to
convert the building to a mid-range Ibis or Mercure hotel. But now
it wants to transform it into one of its upmarket M Hotels, making
it one of only 45 worldwide.
Steve Wright, of Accor Hotels, said: "As planning has now been
approved we can see the development becoming a very desirable
location within Glasgow."
The owners of the A-listed Egyptian Halls in Union Street have
been granted Listed Building Consent by the Scottish Government
agency Historic Scotland.
Souter added: "According to Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, there
is a need for an extra 17,000 hotel, guest house and
bed-and-breakfast bedrooms in the city and surrounding area.
"So once the ground floor is funded, we can also begin to
confirm other interested leisure developers whose plans are on hold
while we look for extra funding."
Planning permission was granted last December. Funding for the
hotel is secure but a further £10m is needed to refurbish the
ground floor level of the Halls.
Source: The Evening Times - Boost for historic
halls