A Japanese restaurant is locked in a bitter dispute with planning bosses over the development of a historic building on Sauchiehall Street.

Kokoro is planning on moving into the building, currently occupied by USA Nails and Beauty and Falafel 2 Go, if their plans are given the go-ahead.

Permission to transform 116 Sauchiehall Street, directly across from the fire damaged block earmarked for demolition, into a restaurant from a retail unit was original denied by the planning department.

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It was eventually approved by a Local Review Committee and developers are now pushing ahead with their plans.

A number of issues have been raised with the site, which is located within a four-storey tenement building, is of Listed B status and is contained within a Conservation Area.

Planners have described the site as ‘not fit for purpose’ adding that the building itself is in an unsatisfactory condition with a number of larger units unoccupied and smaller units accommodating temporary uses.

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A design statement reads: “This has a negative effect upon the vitality and viability of Sauchiehall Street as a retailing destination, and upon the character, quality, and setting of the numerous designated listed buildings and the central area conservation area.

“The proposed development will positively contribute to the attractiveness of the wider area for both visitors to Sauchiehall Street and commercial occupiers, through removal of the existing cluttered signage, fascia and shopfront, and introduction of a new, well-designed and sensitive shop frontage, along with new signage and internal fit out.

“The current site detracts from the character and quality of the B listed building."

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Glasgow City Council refused the first application requested that designs for the shopfront were amended to reflect a more traditional design, that the falafel stand and advertisements were removed, and that appropriate high quality materials were used in the revised design.

The second application is due to go before the planning committee within the next few weeks.