Wemyss Properties was previously given the green light to build 29 new flats on the site of the former Hillhead Baptist Church with a view to retaining the façade of the property.

However, the developer said the Covid pandemic delayed progress over 2020-21, and the roof needed to be removed as an emergency measure because it was unstable.

Plans have now been brought forward to completely demolish the building, at the junction of Cresswell Street and Cranworth Street.

Units will range from one-bed studios to three-bed penthouses. There will be a garden courtyard and a roof terrace.

A design statement submitted with an application for listed building consent explained: “The consented scheme is no longer financially viable.

“Alternative ways to save the street frontages have been explored including full costings for hotel, leisure, student and short-term serviced accommodation. None of the alternative uses generate sufficient capital to fund the development.

”A further alternative of retaining only the entrance portico onto Cresswell Street has also been explored, but this was also found to render the development financially unviable.”

The statement added: “The new proposal at Hillhead will provide a contemporary new corner buildings which completes the tenemental block and offers a range of high quality apartments.

“The design both reflects the traditional rhythm of existing tenements and re-purposes the corner bay. The street will be activated at ground floor with main door access into properties, which again seeks to emulate the arrangement of the tenemental block.”