Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street skyline could be transformed with plans to create 13-storey property

Developers want to build 87 co-living units between 520 Sauchiehall Street/341 Renfrew Street on a historic site, which previously housed a cinema and piano showroom. 

And it's hoped many of the existing building's unique features will be retained, including the "characterful" artwork of the famous composer, currently housed in storage. 

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A design document submitted with the application states: “The existing site will be redeveloped to create a new gateway building, comprising a 13-storey building on Sauchiehall Street and two-storey building on Renfrew Street.

The site from Renfrew Street

“The building at No.520 Sauchiehall Street / No.341 Renfrew Street is Category B-listed and now vacant. It was previously used as a piano workshop, cinema and more recently, a nightclub. Buildings on 522 Sauchiehall street have been largely removed creating an unsightly gap on the main street frontage.

“It is the current intention to retain and restore the listed facades on both Sauchiehall Street and Renfrew Street. The building has been vacant and derelict for a number of years and it is hoped that the facades can be retained to create a truly unique design solution for the site.”

The 87 flats would be of different sizes, while a central courtyard area is proposed alongside the commercial unit on the ground floor.

The building once housed a cinema

The statement added: “A sandstone bust of the composer Beethoven which originally adorned the Renfrew Street façade has been removed and currently stored on site.

“The proposals seek to re-instate this characterful feature and in doing so, secure its long term safety. The bust will be stored securely off site while construction works take place.”

Visit the council's planning website and use the reference 21/02069/FUL to view the full application.