The Regeneration of Glasgow’s Mercat Building

The Mercat Building is a striking Category A listed building at Glasgow Cross, designed by the architect Graham Henderson, who was at one time an assistant to Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Described as an iconic building, it has unfortunately been empty for a number of years, having a negative impact on the surrounding area and leading to concerns regarding vandalism and insurance risks. The good news is that the building is to be redeveloped, bringing it back to life and helping to meet increased housing needs.

The Mercat Building was bought by a developer on 30th January 2025, and planning permission 25/00707/FUL was granted in April 2026 for the conversion of the building to form a flatted residential development (39 units) and a commercial unit, with a rooftop garden and external alterations.

Redevelopment of this scale is costly, and we have recently acted for the lender in completing a loan to finance the works to be carried out to the building.

We look forward to seeing the results and are pleased to have played a part in this important regeneration in the city centre of Glasgow.

The information and opinions contained in this blog are for information only.  They are not intended to constitute advice and should not be relied upon or considered as a replacement for advice.  Before acting on any information contained in this blog, please seek a solicitor’s advice from Gilson Gray.