SPECTRUM Properties has paid an undisclosed sum to purchase the A-listed Mansion House in Glasgow’s Tollcross Park.
The family-owned firm – which operates in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirlingshire – said it has plans to spend £1 million converting the property’s 13 apartments for rent, with a private road to ‘sweep’ through the park.
It anticipates that the properties will be ready for market by the end of next year. The work follows its previous preservation projects at the likes of the Shakespeare Street public school in the west end, the façade and towers of Golfhill School in Dennistoun, and a factory in the 19th century Dixon’s Blazes Industrial Estate.
Spectrum Properties MD, Bill Roddie, said, “The Mansion House is a quite spectacular property, built in a distinctive Scottish style and set on the summit of what was then the Dunlop family’s private estate.
“In its essentials the building is similar to the Great Western Road, Glasgow mansion of the art collector and city benefactor, Sir William Burrell which we restored as high-end apartments a couple of years ago. As ever, we plan to undertake a sympathetic restoration of the entire property, keeping it in its original form and retaining the 13 residential apartments currently onsite.
“It has had its ups and downs over the years, and at one stage was facing demolition before it was preserved by a far-sighted restoration project which was completed nearly 30 years ago. We are delighted now to be able to take on the challenge of custodianship.
“When completed Tollcross House will be the centrepiece of the park and will complement other improvement work such as the £1 million restoration of the Winter Gardens glass house, which is a classic example of its kind.”
