Plans to transform the landmark into an “upper scale” hotel have just been lodged, and it has been claimed that Hyatt Hotels Corporation is lining up 95 Bothwell Street as a destination.
Specialist industry publication the Green Street News earlier reported Hyatt “is planning to open its first Scottish hotel in Glasgow” amid a push to increase its current UK room count by a third over the next two years.
It said: “US hotel titan Hyatt has lined up a site for its Scottish debut.
“The site is currently a 135,000 square foot office block, with completion of the deal subject to Hyatt gaining planning consent for a change of use to create a flagship Scottish hotel at the site.
“Originally constructed in 1931, 95 Bothwell Street is Category B-listed and considered an architectural gem.”
HFD Property Group, the Scottish company behind the planning application for the site with hotel developer Partners-To Group, said “no contracts have yet been exchanged with any hotel brand”.
A statement prepared by Cooper Cromar on behalf of HFD Property Group has been lodged with Glasgow City Council.
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It reads: “The building was completed in the early 1930s by the Scottish Legal Life Assurance company and remains the largest of the American-Classical style commercial buildings in the city.”
Hyatt announced plans this spring to grow its UK portfolio by more than 1,000 rooms.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, has a portfolio of more than 1,400 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 79 countries.
The hotel group does operate the Roxburghe in Scotland under its Schloss brand.
Hyatt said in March that it sees “great potential” in named locations including Glasgow as it signalled its expansion push.
A spokesperson for Hyatt said about Bothwell Street: “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on matters of this nature.”
Stephen Lewis, managing director, HFD Property, said: “HFD, working with our Hotel JV party, Partners-To Group, is delighted to have now submitted our planning and listed building applications for 95 Bothwell Street.
“Our ambitious plans are to re-purpose this majestic, listed building, celebrating its historic features and character, into a high-quality hotel, including associated restaurant, leisure and corporate meeting and private dining spaces, bringing back to use the impressive ornate former meeting rooms and offices on the seventh floor.
“Through an extensive pre-application process, we’ve worked closely and collaboratively with both Glasgow City Council’s planning department and Historic Environment Scotland to ensure the proposals retain the character and overall significance of the listed building – enhancing key features and spaces whilst minimising intervention, but delivering the building’s long term viability and preservation.”
The building is expected to appear in the new Marvel Spider-Man following filming on Bothwell Street. The summer Brand New Day shoot attracted large crowds of onlookers.
An agent told this column that there was also filming inside a former restaurant he was marketing on the ground floor of the spectacular building and we are looking forward to the final cut.