Barclays bid to turn B-listed Beco building into bank branch on new campus

Glasgow City Council has received a planning application which requests permission to change the use of the 19th century building.

Barclays believes the site is the “missing piece of the jigsaw” for the riverside development.

There could be event and meeting space, offices and a lab for “like-minded entrepreneurs” as well as the bank.

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The property, which has been on the Buildings at Risk register since 2007, is currently in a “serious state of disrepair” and permission for repairs has already been granted.

A planning report, submitted on Barclays’ behalf, states the extent of the disrepair, although “not unexpected” is “beyond what was originally anticipated”.

“Since acquiring their Glasgow campus, Barclays has acted quickly to secure as much of the fragmented Beco building titles as possible in order to safeguard the listed building,” the report adds.

“This application has been submitted to facilitate Barclays full occupation of the Beco building and its integration into their Glasgow campus.”

It adds the development will be “highly accessible to those working and living within the development while also providing banking facilities for the wider community”.

Barclays wants to “strengthen their banking offer in Glasgow”, providing a “modern and generous” environment with meeting rooms, self-service technology and free WiFi.

There could also be a Barclays Eagle Lab, a “dedicated space to support individuals, businesses and corporates, allowing them to innovate and grow”, the report states.

“The proposed Eagle Lab will provide high-potential businesses in Glasgow with the services they need to help businesses grow, cultivating a community of like-minded entrepreneurs who will benefit from access to collaborative co-working and office space, structured mentoring and a curated events programme.”

It could include workspace, social and events space, a media studio, private offices, a kitchen and printing facilities.

The report concludes: “The Beco building is a fine example of late 19th century commercial architecture, a building of historical significance and one which makes a significant contribution to the Tradeston townscape.

“In many respects, the Beco building is the ‘missing piece of the jigsaw’ and the submitted proposals represent the final component of what will be a fully coherent and resolved City quarter.”

The Beco building was built in 1878 for Robert Kerr as a draper’s warehouse and showroom.