Thomson masterpiece impasse ends

24 Jun 2008

Union Street Properties, the developer that has been hoping to redevelop Alexander Greek Thomson's Eygptian Halls in Glasgow, has recently purchased the upper floors of the 60,000 square ft block giving the group complete control of the building. Glasgow City Council issued a Listed Building Repair notice on the upper floors of the building in 1991, for the last 17 years USP director Derek Souter, who owned the lower floors, has struggled to bring the disparate owners together.

USP has employed Morrison Architects to undertake first the repair and conservation, and then the re-use of the building. The architects and developer are currently undertaking a new detailed survey and will be making an application to undertake repairs to both Historic Scotland and Glasgow City Council. On initial inspection the cast iron structure appears to be sound, but there are concerns about the condition of the stone external walls, particularly where water has escaped from internal down pipes.