ONE of Scotland's landmark post offices is earmarked for closure next year, with plans to transform it into a major restaurant.

The Post Office confirmed it will shut the doors on its historic premises, one of the busiest in the country, in Glasgow city centre next spring.

It has been based at the St Vincent Street location since the 1990s when the former GPO building in George Square closed.

The Post Office said an ­alternative would open in its place nearby.

The B-listed building, constructed at the turn of the last century and occupying a prominent site at the junction with Buchanan Street, had previously been home to a number of banks, including the National Commercial Bank of Scotland.

Many of the interior features from its financial past have been retained.

A planning application has already been submitted for the site, which is due to be vacated by next May, with one of the UK's largest pub chains proposing a restaurant.

Mitchells and Butlers, owners of more than 1,000 pubs across Britain, have planned a Miller & Carter Steakhouse for the building, the first of the brand north of the Border - if it goes ahead.

The plans have been submitted in conjunction with the John Lewis Partnership Pensions Trust.

However, serious issues are already emerging over the building's listed status and the impact on period details to allow for necessary features like ventilation extracts.

Plans state that there is "no ­internal or external route possible without causing/creating physical fabric damage to the property, especially given the existence of detailed ceiling work and cornicing".

The application submitted to the authority recently states: "We have today submitted planning, listed building, and advertisement consent applications relating to the proposed change of use of the above premises. The proposed restaurant with ancillary licensed bar is to be operated by Mitchells & Butlers PLC under their Miller & Carter Steakhouse brand.

"It is important that the extract solution seeks to retain the character and integrity of the banking hall ceiling by avoiding the need for penetrating ceilings/walls and destroying decorative plasterwork, or interfering with the pattern and arrangement of the nine existing skylights."

A Mitchells & Butlers spokeswoman said: "We don't have much news on this site. It is something we are looking at but right now it is still trading as a post office.

"All we can say at this stage is that it is something we are giving consideration to."

A Post Office spokesman said: "With the lease on the current St Vincent Street Post Office ­premises due to expire in May, 2015, we are in the process of ­securing a nearby premises to establish a new home for Post Office services in the area.

"We believe a move will help us maintain a quality post office in the city centre while also allowing us to provide a modern, state-of-the-art branch for our customers. Further details of these plans will be announced when ready, with any move subject to public consultation."

Meanwhile, a hearing will be held on Tuesday over plans to convert a large section of a Glasgow shopping arcade into a 24-hour gym.

The Pure Gym chain wants to open premises in the Shawlands Arcade, but almost 1,000 people, including Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and several ­cross-party councillors, have objected to the plan.

The arcade has suffered badly in recent years, with many units left vacant. Backers say the plan would create several dozen jobs.