Green light for giant Mackintosh mural after planning row

A mural of Glasgow legends is painted on the Clutha Bar

A giant mural to Charles Rennie Mackintosh overlooking The Clutha bar has been given the green light despite an objection by an arts charity.

Bar owner Alan Crossan had hoped the tribute would have been completed in time for the 150th anniversary of the iconic designer's birth on Thursday.

But Workshop & Artists Studio Provision Scotland (Wasps) said he didn't seek permission from Glasgow City Council.

But a planning enforcement officer has now ruled the mural can go ahead.

Scaffolding was erected outside the Clydeside pub at the end of last week and the wall, which is around 60ft by 40ft, was painted white.

But work had to be abandoned after Wasps objected on the grounds that the pub is next door to the A-listed Briggait.

The former Victorian fishmarket is now an artists' studio and event space.

Wasps said the works being carried out by Mr Crossan, required both Planning and Listed Building Consents, neither of which had been applied for.

But Mr Crossan said he owned the wall and didn't believe he needed planning permission to paint it.

Speaking after the artwork was formally approved, he said: "It is good that the mural is going up for everyone to enjoy and hopefully, going forward, we can work with our neighbours, Wasps, for the betterment of the area and the arts."

A council spokesman said: "Discussions have now taken place and it has been agreed that the work can go ahead."

Wasps declined to comment on the ruling.

Earlier, Mr Crossan said Art Pistol, who are responsible for several striking murals across the city, planned to donate £1,000 to The Clutha Trust to use the wall as a giant canvas.

He said the money will be ring-fenced for an graffiti arts project for young people in the Gorbals.

The charity was set up after ten people died when a police helicopter crashed into the roof of the Glasgow pub on 29 November 2013.

The design for the black and white mural features a portrait of Mackintosh looking through a colour stained glass window featuring one of his trademark designs.

The wall was part of a tenement building which was demolished more than 40 years ago.

Mr Crossan admitted he was perplexed by the objection.

He said: "I really don't know what the reasoning behind it is.

"This work will brighten up the area.

"I can't believe an arts organisation is objecting to a tribute to one of the world's greatest ever artists."

The pub is a part of the city which has been designated a "conservation area" by the council

It is understood the painting of a mural would normally require planning consent if it was on a unlisted building within a conservation area.

But if it involves a listed building it would require both planning and listed building consent.