TCS Freehold Investments Ltd, the owner of 101 to 107 Buchanan Street, has obtained permission to transform the upper floors of the properties into six flats.

The company said that economic changes caused by covid-19 have provided a “fresh opportunity” to bring the vacant third floors and attic level back into use.

Glasgow City Council has a strategy that aims to double the number of people living in the city centre to 40,000 by 2035, which includes encouraging the conversion of empty properties, the Glasgow Times reports.

New uses are required as the rise of online shopping has led to a decline in the demand for retail space.

Plans submitted on behalf of the applicant state various uses have been considered, but access to the building has been a “key issue.”

The planning documents read: “As a property owner with a long term view and desire to ensure that their buildings are kept maintained the applicants have considered how best to bring the upper floors back into regular use.

“It is considered without the benefit of lift access, the upper floors just cannot compete with the offer elsewhere in the city centre for commercial use.

“However, Glasgow has a strong history of residential tenement flats accessed from a common close/stairway, often with retail uses at ground level.

“Recent developments elsewhere on Buchanan Street have also indicated that there is a desire for flats on what many consider to be a shopping or commercial street.”