Bid to save derelict Glasgow schoolhouse from ruin and turn it into home

Parviz Akhtar’s restoration bid for the former janitor’s lodge at Holyrood School has been praised after he bought it from the council.

Among a long list of problems, the decaying property at 60 Dixon Road has no windows or doors, collapsed ceilings and floors according to a letter lodged with the council. Service pipework and cabling has been removed or vandalised and plants have been growing from the brickwork.

Mr Akhtar has applied for permission to make alterations to the old schoolhouse and carry out a loft conversion.

Explaining more about the huge makeover plan in a letter Mr Akhtar’s agent Ian Lang said: “This house was left in a very poor condition by the previous owners and the applicant is to be commended for trying to mitigate the eyesore and save and repair some of its features.”

The letter added: “It is a List B building and over the years has suffered vandalism both from intruders and the lack of maintenance.”

When he first offered to purchase it from the council the applicant’s agent said he wasn’t allowed to inspect it because it was too unsafe but it was later made fit to enter.

A letter from Mr Lang said: “When our client offered to purchase the house from Glasgow City Council, he was not permitted to inspect it due to its unsafe nature. He persevered and the property was made sufficiently safe to enter and inspect.”

The letter added: “With limited architectural merit remaining, particularly internally, the first reaction was that it would be more sensible for the applicant to look at demolishing the building and then recreate a new house to current modern standards. The applicant, though, wished to carry out repairs and, insofar as reasonably practicable, restore the existing building to provide the accommodation required.”

Proposals include converting the loft space to create a bedroom and bathroom with a new dormer window and stairs to access it. There is to be five bedrooms and three bathrooms according to plans submitted to the council.

The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) said it “commends the restoration of this B-listed property.”

But the organisation objected to the proposed use of uPVC for the windows. It recommended wooden frames instead.

It said in a letter lodged with the council: “It would be regrettable if the good intentions for the building are marred by this important detail.”

Glasgow City Council is considering the planning application according to its planning portal status this morning.