Plans to turn old Glasgow court into boutique hotel approved

Plans to transform a former tribunal court in the city centre into a boutique hotel have been given the go-ahead.

Glasgow City Council has approved an application from Henley Homes Group to turn Wellington House into a 98-bedroom hotel.

The property development company plan to “provide a product that provides the best of both boutique hotels and serviced apartments” in the B-listed building, which will be known as ‘The Wellington’.

The site, at the junction of Wellington Street and Bath Street was previously home to the Glasgow Tribunal Hearing Centre.

Limited alterations will be made to the building’s facade, with plans to remove the central column in the central doorway at the Wellington Street entrance.

"This will give the hotel a more prominent and suitably grand entrance and will increase its presence on Wellington Street,” a planning report states.

"The new entrance will be finished in matt bronzed metal and glass to convey a sophisticated atmosphere, appropriate for a boutique city centre hotel."

Henley Homes Group’s application does not include proposals for any food or drink offer.

"Tourism and the short-stay economy are extremely important for Glasgow’s local economy, and contribute positively to the strategic aims nationally as well as the city," the report adds.

"The delivery and availability of a wide range of short-stay accommodation is important, however it is recognised that such activities need to be located in appropriate locations where the existing amenity of a particularly area, especially residential areas, are not negatively impacted."

It states the majority of the city’s hotels are located in city centre, near the SEC and the West End.

Service delivery will take place from an adjacent lane to the south of the building while cycle parking, laundry and emergency access will be provided in the basement garage area.

The report states: "The feel of the hotel will be contemporary, quality without excess, and clearly not too corporate. Anything that spells ‘chain’ goes against the brand ethos."