Billy Connolly mural to be covered by new flats

A giant mural of Scottish comedy legend Billy Connolly will be covered by a new development after plans were approved by Glasgow City Council.

The 11-storey block of student accommodation, located at the corner of Osborne Street/Old Wynd, will be built on a derelict site next to the artwork.

The mural, by renowned Scottish artist John Byrne, was one of three unveiled in 2017 to mark "the Big Yin's" 75th birthday.

Glasgow City Council previously said the mural was only intended to be temporary.

The 288 flats had been proposed by Nova Osborne Ltd on the derelict site which has previously been used as a temporary car park and event space.

The council's Planning Applications Committee approved the development on Tuesday.

Despite Glasgow City Council officials backing the plan, Merchant City and Trongate Community Council had objected.

They said: ''The façade is more like an industrial production unit than a residential neighbourhood and lacking human scale, attraction or liveable interest."

Despite the council's overall support of the new development, one councillor asked if further artwork could be commissioned in the area.

Councillor Imran Alam said: "It is good to see this part of the city centre being developed but I don’t think the Big Yin will be happy with having his mural moved or covered up.

"Is there any potential talk of having a smaller mural of some kind somewhere else in the city?," he asked.

A council officer said: "If there was a volunteer building and a volunteer commissioning body then yes we could consider that elsewhere.

"There were three very high profile artists commissioned to do these murals. This one was John Byrne and at the time it was a very big and important commission."

The officer confirmed there may be other areas where the developer could consider a mural.

This story was based on reporting by Catherine Hunter of the Local Democracy Reporter Service