AN empty shop in an A-listed Glasgow city centre building can be turned into a restaurant, city planners have agreed.

They have approved the change-of-use application for 86 St Vincent Street.

A report by the planning department states: “The premises subject of this application have lain vacant for approximately 12 months since the previous tenants, a male grooming shop, vacated.

“Within this area of the city centre there are a variety of different uses found at lower floor level including retail, office, restaurant, hot food and community uses.

“As such it is considered that the proposed use as a restaurant would be considered acceptable and would not conflict with surrounding uses.”

Drawings submitted to the council show there would be a 50-seat dining area on the ground floor of the premises. The basement would have 12-seat private dining room plus the kitchen, toilets and storage.

The application was made by the owner of the building. No operator for the restaurant is identified, although it’s expected that the opening hours would be 10am to 11pm, Monday to Thursday, and 10am to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

A supporting document submitted with the application states: “The proposed development will see this vacant property transformed into a quality restaurant which will animate the streetscape and enliven the area.

“This part of St Vincent Street has over the last few years seen a resurgence in evening activity with almost all of the ground floor premises now offering a range of dining experiences.”