Local councillors call on Glasgow City Council to reopen Langside Halls as part of heritage initative

Bringing Langside Halls back into use is a key concern for local councillors seeking Glasgow City Council’s commitment to help reopen the building.

An A listed building, originally developed in 1847, the Halls have been shut since 2017 to allow essential repairs to be carried out to the building.

It comes as questions were raised at Glasgow’s full council meeting on Thursday regarding the number of listed buildings owned by the local authority that were lying empty.

Councillor Ruairi Kelly confirmed that there were currently 21 listed and vacant buildings.

He also said council officers have been working with colleagues to identify long-term sustainable users for surplus properties and looking for open market opportunities for them.

He said: “Colleagues will recall that the council’s strategic plan 2022-2027 identified the intention to establish a built heritage commission to help find solutions to the complex challenges facing the historic environment in Glasgow and to provide a forum for the council to champion the heritage agenda in all its forms.

“The first meeting of the Glasgow built heritage commission took place last week and updates will be provided via the appropriate council committees.”

Green councillor Holly Bruce asked about the future of Langside Halls.

She said: “One of the empty buildings that is lying empty at the moment is Langside Halls within my ward.

“Will the convenor commit to working with myself and the Langside Halls Trust on exploring all options for capital investment to reopen the halls as soon as possible.”

Councillor Kelly responded: “I am more than happy to do so but I might bring in my colleague Bailie Christie as that one sits within Glasgow Life.”

Councillor Stephen Docherty then asked what plan had been allocated to safeguard heritage and listed buildings in the city.

He was advised that the building’s heritage has a budget of £1.27m.

Councillor Kelly said: “The commission can be used for a number of different issues. There are several different pots of funding throughout the council that we have asked for a report on what amount of capital money can be used on not just heritage buildings but maintaining buildings or bringing them back into use.

“We will continue to lobby both the Scottish and UK governments for Glasgow’s heritage assets.”