A DEVELOPER has been given permission to turn a “nationally significant” building in central Glasgow — that has been vacant for around 20 years — into “elegant” serviced apartments.

Laurieston House in Carlton Place is described as “arguably the most ornate Georgian townhouse in the UK.” A proposal for “adaptive restoration” of the property has now been approved by Glasgow City Council planners.

There will be 11 managed apartments, a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom units.

A statement included with the application explained: “The building is owned by MMLL Apartments Ltd whose proposals are to carefully transform these unique townhouses into elegant apartments — part of the city’s rich mix and offer for a growing business and tourist market.

“Laurieston House has been designated with a Category A listing status and is of national significance, forming part of Carlton Place, a twin-set of very long and dignified neoclassical terraces begun in 1802 (completed 1818). It is a rare and primarily intact and unique example of a Georgian townhouse.”

The statement continued: “The proposals for Laurieston House are well-timed and chime with the city’s future vision to re-establish the north/south link combining the old and new Laurieston as a singular and connected place with its own rich mix of uses and ‘South Bank’ riverside identity.

“The proposals will not diminish but will seek to add to the building’s significance, where the varied series of original and new spaces can absorb and be enriched by a variety of contemporary interventions providing comfortable residential accommodation.

“These proposals have the potential not only to adapt this much-loved building for contemporary use but to provide for its sustainability as one of the nation’s finest interior residential volumes.”