The developer has submitted an application to Glasgow City Council seeking permission to convert part of the former WH & HO Wills Imperial Tobacco building, now used as offices, into residential accommodation.

The Alexandra Parade landmark, completed in 1953 and regarded as one of Glasgow’s last significant Art Deco industrial structures, was first redeveloped in the early 2000s.

According to the submission by EMA Architects, the portion earmarked for conversion is currently “only partially occupied”, with Turnberry aiming to bring the underused floorspace back into productive use.

The plans outline 129 apartments designed for around 212 residents, supported by co‑working areas, a gym, laundry facilities, a landscaped courtyard, 97 car parking spaces and 162 cycle spaces. A mix of one, two and three‑bedroom homes is proposed.

Turnberry describes the project as an opportunity to “sensitively repurpose” the building into a high‑quality, sustainable urban neighbourhood that strengthens the Alexandra Parade corridor. The vision, they state, is to deliver well‑designed homes within an established urban footprint, boosting local services and contributing to the long‑term resilience of the area.

The application highlights the building’s industrial heritage, noting its decades‑long role in Glasgow’s economy before tobacco production ceased in the early 1990s, leaving the property largely vacant for much of that decade.

The developer says the scheme represents a “significant investment” in safeguarding the future of the listed structure while delivering much‑needed housing in a sustainable location. Property management would be handled by MCR Homes.