This ‘architectural masterpiece’ in Glasgow is set to be rescued and turned into a hotel

The Egyptian Halls on Glasgow’s Union Street is considered to be one of the city’s finest pieces of architecture. Built in 1872 as a department store, bazaar and exhibition space, it was designed by the great Scottish architect Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson who, you might have guessed, was inspired by Greek architecture. It’s got ornate stone columns and is decked out with beautiful Assyrian and Egyptian inspired detailing (hence the name). 

The thing is, Glaswegians haven’t had the chance to appreciate the Grade A-listed building’s full beauty for a long time. While the ground floor is currently being used for shops, the rest of the building has sat empty and crumbling for the past 30 years. It’s been on the national Buildings at Risk Register since 1990 and encased in scaffolding since 2011. It was even flagged as one of Europe’s most endangered buildings in 2019. 

However, that could soon all change – the Egyptian Halls could be fully brought back to life and transformed into a grand new hotel. 

Last year, Glasgow City Council launched a compulsory purchase order (CPO) process to take over the site. The CPO allows the local authority to save a building by purchasing it for its own use or use by other parties and as part of that, it had to invite proposals from other interested developers. Three bids were submitted and now, the council has chosen its favourite. 

The preferred bid comes from property firm Ediston. Its proposal involves converting the ground floor and first floor for leisure uses and transforming the upper floors into a hotel.

Glasgow City Council said Ediston’s plans ‘scored significantly higher than the other proposals in all criteria, have a clear management and team structure and include a defined timeline for development’. It added that the plans will help secure the long-term future of the building, with ‘minimal structural alterations’. 

When the council’s decision was announced last month, Ruairi Kelly, its convener for built heritage and development, said: ‘This is a compelling, detailed and well-progressed proposal for the Egyptian Halls. While there's much work yet to do, today's decision can be a significant milestone in securing a future for this architectural masterpiece while giving new life and new purposes to Glasgow's built heritage.

‘By their very nature CPOs are lengthy and complex. But it's important for Glasgow's past - and its present and future - that we get this process right and bring this incredible building back to the heart of city life.’

The next step for the council is to build a robust case for a CPO and negotiate terms with Ediston. Then, a report will be presented to a council committee before the CPO and a legally binding agreement between the two parties can go ahead.  

ICYMI: One of Glasgow's best restaurants is reopening inside a brand new hotel.

Plus: Inside plans for a massive new £24 million resort in the Cotswolds. 

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