AN EYE-SORE site adjoining Charles Rennie Mackintosh's world-renowned School of Art is to be demolished in a move billed as breathing new life into one of Scotland's best-known thoroughfares .

Plans have been lodged for a major student accommodation development on Glasgow's floundering Sauchiehall Street, with the late-1960s block housing a former nightclub being pulled down to make way for the new scheme.

The owners of the site, who also own the adjacent O2 ABC, which is being fully retained, said their plans could also lead to improvements to the popular concert venue.

Given the obvious heritage issues being so close to Mackintosh's A-listed masterpiece, the developers said they had carried out "a thorough and extensive consultation process", including Glasgow City Council, Glasgow School of Art, and Historic Environment Scotland "to ensure the design and use of the proposed building is in keeping and meets the needs of the local area".

The School of Art said it would "consider the application carefully" and make any comments as part of the planning process.

Historic Environment Scotland said it had no significant concerns at this stage of the proposal.

The scheme is also being pitched as part of an attempt to revive Sauchiehall Street, once the city's commercial heart and more recently a leisure magnet given the abundance of pubs, clubs and restaurants.

It has suffered in recent years, from out-of-town shopping, emphasis on other retail areas and the lure of the nearby Finnieston area for revellers.

But it has been designated Glasgow’s first Business Improvement District, a 10-year multi-million-pound project to rejuvenate the street and Garnethill area, while also cutting down on traffic levels and bringing more visitors to the area.

Murray Henderson, director of Glasgow-based architects HAUS, said: “Sauchiehall Street has developed over time to feature a wide range of architectural styles, communities and uses. We are fully acknowledging the history of our surroundings such as the Grecian Chambers, McLellan Galleries and Glasgow School of Art, while looking to deliver a modern and high quality development which complements and is in keeping with the area.”

The application, if approved, would see the creation of a 185-bed student housing development on the site of the former Jumpin’ Jaks nightclub. The current building is in a state of disrepair and requiring increasing running costs.

The proposed development would also include roof gardens, study rooms, common areas and a cinema room. At street level it is proposed to reinstate the retail and leisure units, as well as providing improvements to the public realm along Dalhousie Street ensuring a welcoming approach towards Glasgow School of Art.

James Patterson from development partner Urban Pulse, said: “Our proposals are very much in-line with the aspirations of the city to rejuvenate Sauchiehall Street..

“We’ve invested a huge amount of time to consider the views of our neighbours and the local population. Our plans fully acknowledge not just how Sauchiehall Street looks with its mix of design styles, but what is needed by local communities and businesses to re-establish this important city district.

“Our proposals would provide a best in class ‘door step’ offering for the Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow University’s dental school."

A spokeswoman for the Glasgow School of Art said: "We are aware of the development proposal and have attended the various pre-application consultations. Now the project has been submitted to planning we will consider the application carefully and submit any comments as part of the planning process."

A Historic Environment Scotland spokesman said: “We have been involved in pre-application discussions regarding the proposals for student accommodation on Dalhousie Street. These pre-application discussions are on-going, so the design of the scheme has not been finalised, but we have not raised significant concerns with the principle of what is being proposed."

A council spokesman said: “I can confirm that an application for the demolition of this site at 294 Sauchiehall St and the erection of student housing development with ground floor commercial and associated works has been submitted, and will be considered in due course.”