Five-star hotel set for old High School of Glasgow

Plans to transform the former High School of Glasgow into a five-star hotel and wedding venue have been approved by the city council.

Hospitality firm Scotsman Group has been granted permission to redevelop the old school buildings - last used as police offices - on Elmbank Street and Holland Street near Charing Cross.

Businessman Stefan King's company, formerly known as G1, already owns several Glasgow venues, including the Grosvenor Cafe, Hillhead Bookclub and Oran Mor, as well as the refurbished Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh.

The new £20m project is expected to include a public bar and restaurant, a spa with pool and gym, 21 serviced apartments and 142 bedrooms.

The Elmbank Street site of the High School of Glasgow, which closed in 1976 before an independent school with the same name was opened, includes Category A listed buildings.

It was used as council offices until the abolishment of Strathclyde Regional Council in 1996, when it was taken on by the police.

Since Police Scotland relocated in 2013, the buildings have been said to have "fallen into a state of disrepair", according to the company.

It is understood the work will be carried out over five stages, with the first two phases focused on the serviced apartments and hotel.

Plans submitted on behalf of the Scotsman Group said function rooms will then be created before the gatehouse buildings are turned into a public bar.

Finally, an unlisted building will be demolished to make way for a spa with pool, gym and treatment rooms.

The final 16 hotel rooms will be developed on the upper floors.

Reporting by Drew Sandelands from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.