REGENERATION organisation Clyde Gateway has been given permission to turn an old Salvation Army hall in Bridgeton into space for local businesses.

Glasgow City planners have approved a planning application for the building on Olympia Street which was designed by Glasgow architect John Hamilton in 1927.

Hamilton was the principal architect for the Salvation Army in Scotland and developed a recognisable style for their many properties.

The building is now known as Olympia House and, over the past 20 years, has been headquarters of the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland.

It was bought by Clyde Gateway last year with the aim of converting the building into open plan offices for local businesses.

A design statement submitted with the application explained: “This project seeks to return this prominent building to commercial use creating a modern, flexible and well-designed internal working environment.

“It is proposed to undertake extensive ‘defurb’ works internally, whilst retaining conservation elements to create New Olympia House.

“Works will include the removal of existing partitions to create open-plan floor plates, replacement of existing external windows and doors, upgrade and refurbishment of existing external courtyard to create a new accessible public entrance and installation of lift to improve accessibility.”

The statement continues: “There is an opportunity to pick up on the existing pattern of vertical elements along Olympia Street, looking specifically at the bay pattern on the elevation of Olympia House itself, and add to this to create a new vertical element to signify a new accessible entrance and create a unique character and identity for new Olympia House.

“Crucially, the entrance structure would be transparent and lightweight, to allow sunlight to flood into the newly refurbished courtyard.”