Historic Clydeside building Laurieston House set for redevelopment

A historic Glasgow building on the banks of the River Clyde could soon be brought back to life.

Laurieston House, which is at 51 Carlton Place, near Glasgow Sheriff Court on the south bank of the river, has lain vacant for 19 years and was previously used as a centre was disabled children until the 1980s.

Proposals - submitted by Elder and Cannon Architects on behalf of MMLL Apartments Ltd - which would see the building converted into '11 residential managed apartments', are currently being considered by Glasgow City Council.

Documents detailing the plans highlight the A-listed building's historical importance, stating: "Laurieston House has been designated with a Category A listing status and is of national significance, forming part of Carlton Place a twin set of very long and dignified neoclassical terraces begun in 1802 (completed 1818).

An artist's impression of one of the interiors of the apartment (Elder and Cannon Architects / Glasgow City Council)

"It is a rare and primarily intact and unique example of a Georgian townhouse and first part of a distinct commercial expansion south for the city of Glasgow. It forms the centre piece of the eastern range- one of a part of unique and almost identical terraced townhouses, and is amongst the finest examples built in this country."

And it is hoped the building's legacy will be maintained as part of the new development: "The proposals for Laurieston House are well timed and chime with City’s future vision to re-establish the north south link combining the old and new Laurieston as a singular and connected place with its own rich mix of uses and ‘South Bank’ riverside identity.

"Proposals will not diminish and will seek to add to the buildings significance, maintaining the integrity and logic of the original layout as a continuum, where the varied series of original and new spaces can absorb and be enriched by a variety of contemporary interventions."

The proposed apartments, which will feature over basement, ground, first, second and third floors, range from one to three bedrooms and sizes of 64m2 to 134m2.

To view the plans in full, visit the Glasgow City Council planning website, HERE.