Glasgow City Council’s planning committee has approved a proposal by CALA Homes (West), which had originally planned to convert the building but told the council that restoration is now “unviable”.

It is not a listed building so planning permission for the demolition was not required, however, 17 objections to the plans were submitted to the council.

As well as opposing the demolition, objectors were also concerned about the quality of the housing proposed and a lack of engagement with the community, Glasgow Live reports.

Iain Wotherspoon, of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, said: “The society objects to the proposed demolition of Douglas House.

“There does not seem to be a compelling structural reason for this demolition; any damp and other issues with the property would seem to have been caused by neglect of the building and could be rectified.

“The building would make a far greater contribution to the area than yet more bland houses.”
However, council officers stated that Douglas House was the least important of three buildings on the site and did not have “any statutory protection”.

A statement submitted by CALA Homes (West) claimed restoring Douglas House was “unviable due to the extremely poor condition of the building fabric which has become evident through opening up investigations”.

The building’s structure and fabric is “far worse than originally anticipated”, they added, and has continued to “deteriorate with water ingress and increasing corrosion”.