GREENOCK businessmen Sandy and James Easdale have submitted plans to turn the landmark former Watt Brothers department store building in Glasgow into a hotel.
The brothers bought the B-listed art deco premises — situated between Sauchiehall Street and Bath Street in the city centre — several years ago after the retail chain went out of business.
They have now applied for permission from Glasgow City Council to convert the building into a boutique 100-room hotel with fitness suite plus food/beverage outlets for guests and the public. A rooftop extension would be added.
A statement included with the application explains: “The proposals represent both a sensitive heritage-led approach to the reuse of a landmark city-centre building and a significant opportunity to support the ongoing regeneration of Sauchiehall Street and the wider city centre economy.
“The former Watt Brothers building is a Glasgow landmark, long associated with the city’s retail and cultural identity. Its closure has left a prominent void within Sauchiehall Street, one of the city’s most important commercial and civic thoroughfares.
“The proposed hotel use offers a sustainable new chapter for the building, ensuring its long-term preservation while re-establishing it as a centrepiece of city centre activity.
“From a heritage perspective, the project will safeguard the building’s distinctive architectural character, securing its contribution to the historic fabric of Sauchiehall Street for future generations.
“At the same time, the development represents a major regeneration opportunity, bringing new investment, jobs, and footfall to an area that has faced retail decline in recent years.”
The main façades will be restored and retained to safeguard the building’s distinctive identity and significant internal architectural elements will be preserved and integrated into the new design.
There would be a separate retail unit fronting Sauchiehall Street.
