AN EYESORE office block occupying one of the most prestigious sites in Glasgow is to be transformed into an "iconic landmark"

By Gerry Braiden

AN EYESORE office block occupying one of the most prestigious sites in Glasgow is to be transformed into an "iconic landmark".

George House, a 1970s' box-like structure occupying half of the northern face of George Square, is scheduled to undergo a £65million overhaul after its owners submitted plans yesterday.

Part of the plan for the building, currently home to accountancy firm Ernst & Young, involves a terraced restaurant and convention facilities. The proposed new building would also create 27,000 sq m of office space.

George House's owners, Redevco, have been working with Glasgow City Council and Historic Scotland to establish the design concepts with a loose deadline of 2014.

Redevco is hosting an exhibition of its redevelopment plans at Princes Square from 2pm to 7pm today and Friday.

Scottish firm Reiach and Hall has secured the design aspect of the new building.

Director Neil Gillespie is currently Architect of the Year, and designed the award-winning Beatson Institute for Cancer Research at Glasgow's Gartnavel Hospital with fellow director Lyle Chrystie.

Mr Chrystie said: "We have focused on designing a building that takes full advantage of its site on George Square and is an appropriate neighbour to the City Chambers.

"All of the major design decisions have been made with this in mind. We have been inspired by Glasgow's rich tradition of commercial and mercantile buildings and hope this can add to and extend this heritage."

Built in 1979, George House is widely accepted as poor quality architecture, in sharp contrast to most of the surrounding listed buildings. It was bought by Redevco in 2003 for £18m, the biggest office transaction that year in Glasgow.

The redevelopment plans also come at a time when the 230-year-old square could be on the cusp of one of its biggest overhauls in recent history. The city council has indicated that it would like to pedestrianise part of the street network around George Square, while the completion of the high-profile, £70m redevelopment of the GPO building is expected by the end of 2009.

Speculation continues that the old GPO will become the new Glasgow home of Ernst & Young.

A spokesman for Redevco said: "George Square is one of the key focal points in Glasgow, visited by thousands of tourists every year, and regularly utilised by the city's workers.

"Its significance will come to the fore when the Commonwealth Games 2014 come to Glasgow, when it will be a place for public congregation and celebration." The sympathetic design of George House would also improve the appeal of the College of Building and Printing behind it, an illuminated milestone of Glasgow's evening skyline.

Redevco UK portfolio director David Smith said: "We have gone to great effort to ensure that the designs for the new George House will provide Glasgow with a landmark befitting its iconic location."

A council spokesman said: "A planning application for the redevelopment has been submitted and will be considered by the planning applications committee in due course."