As part of the South West Govanhill Acquisition and Repair programmme, Glasgow City Council leaders want to take over 97 Westmoreland Street and refurbish the building, however, one owner objected to the compulsory purchase of his property.

The owner rejected the council’s compulsory purchase order, despite his ground floor flat-lying empty, the Glasgow Times reports.

Duncan Thomson, group manager for private sector housing with Glasgow City Council, told a meeting of the Govanhill Regeneration Group that the owner had negotiated for more money.

Mr Thomson said: “We set up a pre-inquiry for this month in the hope we could sit down with this individual and agree common ground and a way forward rather than go to a public inquiry in June.

“So far this individual has not responded to the Scottish Government on that so we don’t know what’s going to happen now.

“We’re waiting to hear back from the Scottish Government about a possible public inquiry.

“At the other seven flats there have been no issues but this one ground floor flat is lying empty.”