A prominent Glasgow businessman has submitted his latest proposals for a major £25 million development within the heart of the city centre.
Leisure and property millionaire James Mortimer's vision for the
historic Royal Exchange Square includes a hotel with more than 100
beds, high-end retail units, bars, restaurants and a casino.
The plans lodged with the city council have been amended from
previous proposals - with the hotel reduced from 11 floors to seven
following a mixed response from official bodies who were
consulted.
It is the latest phase in an £80m, decade-long project to revamp
properties in the square - which also houses the Gallery of Modern
Art - and is said by Mr Mortimer's company to be based on the
acclaimed Fünf Höfe in Munich.
It will see the demolition of several B-listed properties within
the block - which dates back to the mid-1800s - although the
facades will be retained.
A major element of the scheme will be to utilise the alleys and
lanes which connect Buchanan Street and Queen Street, and it
proposes to "unlock a route north/south from Royal Exchange Square
to Princes Square and attract footfall into the depth of the site
with the location of a new retail arcade and the hotel entrance at
the heart of the development".
The aim is to attract one of London's leading fashion retailers
to the area.
Source: The Herald - James Mortimer submits £25m
development plans