Appeal over Glasgow council decision to reject Marks & Spencer demolition plan

Drew Sandelands

3 May 2024 at 0:03 pm·2-min read

Developers behind a plan to demolish the former Marks & Spencer store on Sauchiehall Street are appealing against the council’s decision to reject the bid.

Glasgow City Council’s planning committee rejected Fusion Group’s proposal for over 600 student flats and new shop units — which would have retained the 1930s facade — despite officials recommending it could be approved.

Councillors believed the scheme would be “harmful” to the surrounding conservation area and would “contribute to an overprovision of student accommodation in the vicinity relative to mainstream residential accommodation”.

Fusion Group has now appealed to the Scottish Government and a reporter has been appointed to assess the case, with a decision expected by the end of June. It has also submitted a second application for the site.

The fresh bid would see the height of the building reduced, responding to councillors’ concerns that the first plan would have “an over-dominant impact”.

The developers believe the original plan was “appropriate” for the site’s location and had a “careful articulation of massing that responds directly to neighbouring buildings”. It would be five and eight storeys in height facing onto Sauchiehall Street and 11 and 18 storeys facing Renfrew Street.

Fusion Group has also said there is a “clear demand-supply imbalance from full time students in Glasgow who potentially require, but are not able to access, purpose built student accommodation”.

“The proposed development is capable of contributing towards the freeing up of significant capacity in mainstream accommodation within the locality and across the city,” it added.

The new plan also retains the original Marks & Spencer facade and reintroduces an arcade linking Sauchiehall Street to Renfrew Street.

Documents state the building would also be suitable for a “comparatively ‘light touch’ redevelopment” to an alternative use if “future social or market conditions necessitate”. They suggest it could become build-to-rent homes or a hotel.

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