THE future of the A-listed Mansion House — the Scottish baronial masterpiece in Tollcross Park in Glasgow — has been secured by its sale to a local property company.

Family-owned developer Spectrum Properties, which operates all over Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirlingshire, has bought the building from from Shettleston Housing Association and plans to spend a further £1million converting its 13 spacious apartments for rental.

The Mansion House, built by the architect David Bryce for the mine-owning Dunlop family, features classic crow-stepped gables, turrets and pointed roofs.

Spectrum Properties has been instrumental in preserving much of Glasgow’s Victorian architectural and industrial heritage and has invested tens of millions of pounds in saving and repurposing properties of recognised architectural merit.

Managing director Bill Roddie said: “The Mansion House is a quite spectacular property, built in a distinctive Scottish style and set on the summit of what was then the Dunlop family’s private estate.

“In its essentials the building is similar to the Great Western Road, Glasgow mansion of the art collector and city benefactor, Sir William Burrell which we restored as high-end apartments a couple of years ago.”

He added: “As ever, we plan to undertake a sympathetic restoration of the entire property, keeping it in its original form and retaining the 13 residential apartments currently onsite.

“It has had its ups and downs over the years, and at one stage was facing demolition before it was preserved by a far-sighted restoration project which was completed nearly 30 years ago. We are delighted now to be able to take on the challenge of custodianship.

“When completed Tollcross House will be the centrepiece of the park and will complement other improvement work such as the £1million restoration of the Winter Gardens glass house, which is a classic example of its kind.”

It is anticipated that the apartments will be ready for market by the end of next year.

Spectrum Properties has previously been involved in preserving properties such as Victorian warehouses in French Street and Carstairs Street in Dalmarnock; the historic Shakespeare Street public school in the West End; the façade and towers of architecturally important Golfhill School in Dennistoun; and a factory on the 19th century Dixon Blazes Industrial Estate.

One of the largest property companies in Scotland, it has also restored and converted sites such as Hillhead High School in Cecil Street in Glasgow, the former Hydepark Public School in Springburn and Shettleston Public Baths.