Plans to demolish former M&S store blocked

The Marks & Spencer site on Sauchiehall Street has been empty for a year

A proposal to demolish a former Marks & Spencer store has been narrowly rejected by a Glasgow City Council planning committee.

The building, located on Sauchiehall Street in the city centre, was to be knocked down to make way for student housing.

The plans, for the 1935 building, were rejected because of an "over-concentration" of student accommodation at the site.

The proposal sparked 12 letters of objection with people worried about its proposed height, which would have partly risen to 18 storeys.

The plans also received four letters of support.

The proposal for the site, which has been vacant for a year, also included shops and short-stay accommodation.

The planning application was put forward by development company Fusion Glasgow Devco Ltd.

If the application had been granted the building would have been five to eight storeys facing Sauchiehall Street and 11 to 18 storeys on Renfrew Street.

During Tuesday's planning application, there was a 50/50 split on whether to approve the plans.

Committee chairperson, Green party councillor Elaine Gallagher, had the deciding vote and blocked the proposal.

Ms Gallagher said: “I would like the developers to look harder at the possibility of mainstream accommodation on this site so I am going to reject it.”

This story was based on reporting by Catherine Hunter of the Local Democracy Reporter Service