THE former Royal Bank of Scotland building on Trongate will be demolished.

Glasgow City Council has approved an application to bring down the building, and ground floor shops, as well as the Oriental Bar on Hutcheson Street.

The applicant is planning to build a 157-bed hotel, pub and shops on the site, which it hopes will be a catalyst for more development in the area.

“A new building in this location will help contribute towards improved social cohesion which will have economic benefits for the Trongate area and the wider context of Glasgow,” a report on behalf of applicant Caledon Property Group states.

“The upper floors of the former RBS have been vacant for some time since closure and the ground floor retail units have also spent a large amount of time vacant.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Ex-RBS building on Trongate could be demolished for hotel, shops and pub

“As a result the building is in poor condition and is having a negative impact on the townscape. The Oriental Bar is currently still trading but is controlled by the applicant.”

The report states hotel guests would be able to park in either Glassford Street NCP car park or the King Street NCP car park.

Plans for the 12-storey hotel, at 178-186 Trongate/11 Hutcheson Street, reveal it would have its reception on the seventh floor, with the retail units on the ground level. Guests would be met in the entrance lobby by a concierge.

Glasgow Times:

“This building will be an asset to the city and could become a catalyst for more development along the Trongate,” the applicant added.

“Vibrancy and interest will be added by increased activity through the combination of new retail units, public house and hotel entrance.

“Glasgow has a variety of striking buildings on prominent corners and this building will add another that is of a language and scale familiar to its surrounding context.”