A FORMER police station and district court will be transformed into a new hotel.
Glasgow City Council is expected to agree to sell the two-storey landmark B- listed building in Turnbull Street to private developer David Somerville for £410,000.
The traditional red brick and sandstone building, formerly used as the Central Police Station and District Court for Glasgow, closed in 2008.
City Property began marketing the site, close to the Saltmarket and Glasgow Green, on the council's behalf in December 2013 and they received four offers before the July 31, 2014 closing date.
The highest offer was £525,000 from Exchange Court Properties Ltd for a residential development of between 20 and 30 units on the site, but it was not the preferred bid because the firm wants to demolish a huge chunk of the building.
The second highest offer was £410,000 from Mr Somerville, who plans to turn it into a hotel or a residential conversion if the hotel fails to get planning permission.
The council's executive director of development and regeneration, Richard Brown, will recommend that the executive committee approves the sale to Mr Somerville on the grounds that he promised to retain the listed building and there was a potential for job creation.
But Paul Merrick, treasurer of the Bridgeton and Dalmarnock Community Council, said he was concerned about the impact a new hotel would have on local residents.
He said: "Key things like parking are the issues for us.
"We want it to have a positive impact on the local area rather than a negative impact. The residents won't see any revenue coming from it.
"We haven't seen any plans for this development yet but we would hope there would be sufficient parking for the hotel guests and staff within the plans."
The building, which opened in 1906, was also used as a police museum and inside are offices, court hall, cells, recreation and reception areas all built around a courtyard within the Central Conservation Area.
The council said that if the sale is given approval then it would be owned by Mr Somerville who has a considerable track record in developing listed buildings.
Mr Brown said: "The purchaser intends to convert the existing building to form a hotel.
"Should planning not be received for this use, then the purchaser would propose to convert the property to residential use." `
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