COUNCILLORS delayed a decision on whether several buildings in Glasgow City Centre can be demolished to make way for a £95million office block.
The 14-storey, 378,000-square-foot building is proposed for a high-profile site bounded by Robertson Street, Robertson Lane, York Street and Argyle Street.
It is currently occupied by a Category ‘B’ listed former warehouse building, a Category ‘C’ listed tenement and an unlisted single storey building formerly occupied by a pawnbrokers.
The plan by Osborne and Co was discussed by Glasgow’s planning applications committee on Tuesday.
Councillors voted 8:6 to continue the proposals to a hearing at which representatives from the developers and objectors would be able to speak. Historic Environment Scotland — which did not object to the applications — would be invited as well.
The committee heard that trying to save the dilapidated B-listed structure would result in a “conservation deficit” — the value of the building after any attempt to preserve it would be £10million to £16million less than the cost of the work, making the effort prohibitive to developers.
A report by council officials states: “The potential occupier is a global financial institution operating a 24-hour business, generating footfall and further contributing to the vibrancy of the area.”