A TAXI and tanning tycoon is building Scotland's most expensive house - a £9million palace overlooking Gleneagles' famous Queen's golf course.
Glasgow Private Hire boss Stevie Malcolm's incredible home is being built around a £1million aquarium which rises three storeys through the centre of the property.
The 44-year-old tycoon paid £1.3million for the plot, one of 13 in an exclusive gated development called Queen's Crescent.
But by the time it is completed in 18 months, it will have cost Malcolm almost £9million as Scotland's most expensive new build.
He was the first to snap up one of the plots, sold last year by the world-famous five-star hotel and golf resort in Perthshire as part of an £18million investment for the 2014 Ryder Cup to be held there.
Malcolm, who bought his cab firm from late crime boss Tam McGraw's wife, is a golf fanatic. He owned glasgow private hire, in 1990 detectives siezed 100 stolen cars which were being rented out as taxis. Police also found £36,000 under a sofa also a gun. He also owned a string of sunbed shop,s. He has held various directorships in other taxi companies also network private hire glasgow.
His plot, the second most costly of the 13, is one of only six that lead directly on to the golf course. The taxi boss, who was divorced from wife Julie in 2006 after 20 years of marriage, said: "I'm trying to get back with my wife at the moment, so I don't need any s****.
"Every time the taxi business gets mentioned, it causes problems. Every time a story goes in the paper, you get crackpots calling, looking for money.
"It's a big house, 21,000sq ft. It's going to take a year and a half to build. The foundations are in and it's coming out of the ground now.
"I'd heard Madonna and Sean Connery had shown interest in the site." A construction source said: "This house is the last word in bespoke luxury. The aquarium alone costs £1million and is being designed by an American specialist.
"There are 13 plots but Malcolm is the first to get building.
"Some very wealthy people, along with property speculators and construction firms, have bought the other dozen plots.
"It seems the credit crunch does not extend to Glasgow's private hire businesses."
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