A Victorian city centre townhouse most recently used as office space could be converted into five bespoke apartments if planning permission is granted by council officers. 

An application for four two bedroom flats at 21 Elmbank Street and a two bedroom duplex/mews which would be situated in extension at the back of the B-listed property has been submitted to Glasgow City Council’s planning department. 

If approved, each new home would offer lounges with “high end” open plan kitchens, two double bedrooms, a bathroom and en-suite provision. 

The property at Elmbank Street, which was built in the mid 1850s for residential purposes, was converted into retail space around 1920 when the Boy Scouts Association took it over. 

In the 1960s a two storey extension was added at the back of the townhouse to create some storage space. 

The building is no longer suitable for modern commercial use, which means as a result it is no longer functional, and so the tenants are looking to relocate to an alternative location which will suit their needs better. 

A planning statement from the developer says: “Redevelopment of this obsolete building to provide five quality apartments is an appropriate use and one which would complement rather than conflict with surrounding uses and would be in keeping with the “city living and re-population of the city centre” strategy. 

“The proposed new use will also ensure that this excellent example of Victorian architecture is protected and brought back into economic use.”

A decision is expected to be made in due course.