New hope for Glasgow building as preferred developer approved for Alexander 'Greek' Thomson's Egyptian Halls

Today’s move by Glasgow City Council’s Contracts and Property Committee follows last year’s decision to explore the use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers to secure the Egyptian Halls’ future. That process included the marketing of the building to interested parties across the summer and autumn of 2025.

The Council will now enter into negotiations over an agreement with Ediston, while continuing to advance the Compulsory Purchase Order process to acquire the building from its present owners. Ediston is leading a consortium that includes The List magazine, who intend to open a food market in the building.

The Egyptian Halls have been vacant and derelict for over 30 years and been on the national Buildings at Risk Register since 1990. Scaffolding has been in place for 15 years, despite the fact they are not being used to facilitate repairs or maintenance.

The building is owned by two companies - Union Street Developments and Union Street Properties - both operated by Dundee businessman Derek Souter. Structural engineers have reported the building’s condition is continuing to decline. A defective building notice, requiring repairs to be carried out, was served last year.

The council began the Compulsary Purchase Order procedure after the owner of the Egyptian Halls refused a bid to buy the building from the group led by The List and real estate company Ediston.

The committee heard that an anticipated timeline for the completion of a CPO could take 12-18 months and would depend on legal steps, opportunities for challenge and then a submission to the Scottish Government.

The Egyptian Halls generated more than 20 notes of interest, with three bids submitted, including one from the current owners. The council report states: “Ediston’s plans scored significantly higher than the other proposals in all criteria, have a clear management and team structure and include a defined timeline for development. The submission also includes in-principle commitments from potential new occupiers for the ground and first floor leisure uses and an international hotel operator for the upper floors.

“Ediston’s team also includes experts in fundraising for historic assets, who will work to identify additional sources of funding required to deliver on the plans. In justifying a CPO, a council must be satisfied that there is a reasonable prospect of securing sufficient funding for the acquisition of a property and for the scheme to be completed within a reasonable timescale.”

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Convener for Built Heritage and Development at Glasgow City Council, said: “Identifying a compelling, detailed and well-progressed proposal for the Egyptian Halls is key to securing a future for this architectural masterpiece while giving new life and new purpose to Glasgow’s built heritage.

“By their very nature CPOs are lengthy and complex. But it’s important for Glasgow’s past - and its present and future - that we get this process right and bring this incredible building back to the heart of city life.”

Ahead of the meeting, Andy McKinlay, Chairman of Ediston, said: “We are delighted to have been recommended by Glasgow City Council as preferred developer to take forward the restoration and repurposing of The Egyptian Halls and look forward to hearing the Council’s decision.”

The List magazine CEO Sheri Friers told GlasgowWorld: “The List is working closely with Glasgow City Council and a number of organisations to deliver something special for the city of Glasgow which brings the best of Scotland's food and drink together and restores the A-Listed Egyptian Halls.”

Egyptian Halls is considered the greatest work of Glaswegian architect Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson. Egyptian Halls is a category-A listed building on Union Street - constructed between 1870-1872 for James Robertson, an iron manufacturer.

A Glasgow Herald report from November, 1873 states: “We understand the Egyptian Halls, a building in Union Street, forming a particularly bold specimen of the Egypto-Greek style of architecture, has been leased for ten and a-half years by a limited liability company called ‘The Egyptian Halls and Fancy Bazaar Company.’"

Developer Derek Souter lodged plans to convert the ornate building into a four-star hotel and shops in a £50 million development in 1999 but they did not progress.

The Egyptian Halls originally had space for shops on the ground floor and contained a large exhibition hall as well as warehouse space in the upper levels. The name of the building is believed to relate to an Egyptian themed exhibition, including displaying a tomb from Thebes, that were part of the first attractions.

The building was added to the list of the fourteen most significant endangered buildings in Europe by Europa Nostra in 2019.