That the Parliament welcomes the decision by Glasgow City Council, on 12 June 2025, to sell the former Martyrs’ School building in Townhead, which was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and completed in 1898, to the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland; believes that this will preserve an early and significant example of Mackintosh’s architectural legacy; notes that the building’s new function as a public museum for Scottish Catholic archives and office space will bring renewed public access, meaning there will be no more prolonged vacancy of this heritage building; believes that the museum will safeguard and showcase Scotland’s Catholic cultural and religious heritage, while creating a historic and educational focal point linked to St Mungo’s Church; further believes that this project represents a sustainable and community-focused reuse of a vacant Category A listed structure, and calls on the Scottish Government to support and encourage similar initiatives that bring unused listed buildings back into active public use, fostering heritage preservation and community engagement.
Supported by:
Paul Sweeney