Council could force sale of historic Glasgow building

Ruairi Kelly, convener for built heritage at the council, said: “The Egyptian Halls are an architectural treasure of national importance right in the heart of our city.

“Yet the pursuit of solutions leading to its repair and restoration have dragged on for decades.

“While there remains no indication of a viable plan coming forward from the building’s owners, the concern is the Halls continue to deteriorate.”

He said councillors will be asked whether “the time is right” to look at using CPO powers to acquire the building.

Mr Kelly added: “CPOs can be lengthy and complex legal processes but this would be the first major step towards the repair and reuse of this beautiful building, bringing part of Glasgow’s heritage back into city life, with so many positive impacts for our city centre.”

Niall Murphy, director at Glasgow City Heritage Trust, welcomed the move from the council and said it could help “bring the current impasse to a head”.

He added: “The situation needs to be resolved due to the blight being inflicted on Union Street.

“The Egyptian Halls is Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s commercial masterpiece but, sadly, has been on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register since 1990.

“Getting the building back into sustainable reuse will help regenerate this part of the city centre while ensuring a future for one of the architectural jewels in Glasgow’s crown.”

Dundee businessman Derek Soutar, who owns the building through companies Union Street Properties Ltd and Union Street Investments Ltd, has been approached for comment.