Latest on plan to ‘demolish’ three buildings near M8 in Glasgow

The Glasgow Times reported last week three buildings on St George’s Road near Glasgow’s M8 could be demolished to make way for Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). 

It comes after a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) was submitted to Glasgow City Council to demolish 95-113 St George’s Road in Woodlands, which would include the St George’s Studios building, Q Club and PureGym Glasgow Charing Cross.

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(Image: Mark F Gibson / Gibson Digital) MSP Paul Sweeney contacted Iceni Projects, consultants for developers Albert Investment Co Ltd, saying the façade of St George’s Studios should be retained “at a minimum” if the development were to go ahead. 

The building, which previously belonged to City Bakeries, is not listed but is noted as an Unlisted Building of Townscape Merit in the Woodlands Conservation Area with Sweeney calling it a “fine example of interwar classical architecture”. 

He said: “The proposal from Albert Investment Co Ltd to tear down a set of buildings on St. George’s Road, including the St. George’s Studios, formerly the City Bakeries building, to build student accommodation, is deeply concerning, to say the least.

“I have written to the developers’ consultant, Iceni Projects, to stress the importance of façade retention at a minimum, given the City Bakeries building is a fine example of interwar classical architecture and is of significant townscape heritage value within the Woodlands Conservation Area.”

(Image: Mark F Gibson / Gibson Digital) After Sweeney contacted Iceni Projects, a public consultation regarding the plans that was scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 20 was postponed so the proposals can be revised. 

He continued: “I am pleased that in light of my comments, they postponed their public consultation event last week to review their proposed design with council planners.

“I will continue to press for a minimum of a full façade retention of the former City Bakeries building in a similar way to the deal that I secured with Fusion Students to save the façade of the Marks & Spencer store on Sauchiehall Street.”

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(Image: Mark F Gibson / Gibson Digital) The PAN says developers wish to build PBSA and short-stay (non-term time) accommodation with ground floor units for shops, food and drink outlets and office space with a full planning application expected to be submitted to the council later this year. 

A rescheduled public consultation is expected to take place in mid-April once revised plans have been finalised, with a full planning application expected later in the year. 

In an email sent to MSPs a representative of Albert Investment Co Ltd wrote: “The project team is currently revising the proposed design in discussion with Glasgow City Council through a pre-application process. 

“To ensure all comments are addressed, we are working towards detailed development plans to ensure meaningful public engagements at the event.”

Iceni Projects has been contacted for comment.