PLANS are said to be underway to transform the former, listed HQ of BBC Scotland into a restaurant, events space and possible wedding venue.
The landmark building, on Queen Margaret Drive was bought over by Stefan King, owner of the G1 leisure group, in 2011 for an undisclosed sum and is the company’s main base.
Planning permission was granted two years ago to convert the former Queen Margaret College anatomy building which was designed by John Keppie and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
According to council sources, the applicant has discharged the conditions attached to the planning permission which means work is underway or about to start. It is understood that the events space is being lined up as a potential wedding venue.
Certain conditions were attached to the proposal when it was accepted by the council to “protect local residents from noise, disturbance and unsocial hours.”
Part of the site, on Hamilton Drive, has already been used for a luxury flat development. The last phase of the Botanics development created four-storey townhouses with cinema rooms.
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The council has said that the restaurant and events space must only operate from Wednesday to Sunday from 5.30pm to midnight and on Saturday to Sunday 9.00 to 12.00 hours on evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Use of the external terrace and landscaped garden associated with the restaurant and events space is also restricted to 11am to 9pm daily.
When the planning application was submitted in 2017, there were a number of objections from local people, the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, Friends of Glasgow West and Buchinham and Hamilton and Ruskin Residents Association.
They were concerned about transport, road safety and parking issues, increased noise, the impact on neighbouring residents and the design of the building.
The G1 group did not respond to the Evening Times’ requests for details about the planned renovations.
A council spokesman said: “The applicant has been discharging the conditions recently (August 2019) so it looks as though the works may be starting/have started.
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With regard to the wedding venue, a council source said: “This could be done within the terms of planning consents as long as conditions are adhered to.”
BBC Scotland left the premises, which it had occupied since 1936, four years ago to move to Pacific Quay on the south side of the River Clyde.
It was built in1869 and was soon after acquired for Queen Margaret College, the first college for women in Scotland.
The college closed in 1935 and it was then adapted for use by the BBC.
Most of the former BBC site at Queen Margaret Drive HQ was demolished but the original building was retained.
Several years ago, planning permission was granted to convert the building into a hotel.
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