GHA, part of Wheatley Group, is behind the multi-million pound plans which will save – and breathe new life into – the Bell Street Stables in the Merchant City, a category B-listed building on Historic Environment Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register.

Designed in the late 19th century, the building was home to the horses which pulled Glasgow City Cleansing Department’s refuse collection carts, as well as the city’s police horses.

GHA’s plans, which will create 52 flats, will involve restoring the existing façade and see the original stable dividers from the upper floors transformed into cycle-storage areas.

Staircases to the upper floors will replace the original ramps which were climbed by the horses after a days’ work, and the internal cobblestone flooring will be lifted, with much of it used to re-surface the outdoor courtyard area.

CCG (Scotland) Limited will be the contractor on the project, which has received more than £2 million of grant funding from the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.

GHA’s director of regeneration, David Fletcher, said: “This project will bring great quality, much-needed affordable homes to the city centre, while bringing new life to an historic Glasgow building.

“We’re looking forward to embarking on our exciting plans to create modern, energy-efficient homes that fully respect and pay tribute to the building’s history.”

Planning approval has been granted and work is expected to start on-site in spring 2017. The plans have been developed in partnership with Collective Architecture, Scott Bennett Associates and Martin Aitken Associates.

Once completed, the flats will be available for mid-market rent and managed by Lowther Homes, also part of Wheatley Group.