A Victorian warehouse in Cranstonhill is set to be pulled down to make way for a 12-storey block of flats.
Glasgow’s planning local review committee backed Kelvin Properties’ application to build 34 flats on Houldsworth Street at a meeting on Tuesday.
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There were 21 objections to the proposal, including from Bailie Christy Mearns and Paul Sweeney MSP, with many arguing the warehouse was an “excellent candidate” for being listed and should be converted.
However the developer claimed the block “should be demolished to make way for a confident, contemporary design” and described the project as a “bold new vision for the Cranstonhill area”, near Finnieston.
The review committee had been asked to decide on the plans after the developer lodged an appeal as council officers had not ruled on the application within the expected timeframe.
The four-storey building which will be demolished is not listed and the lower floors are currently in use by a fishmonger.
One objection said the building is “one of the last Victorian industrial buildings in Finnieston”, adding: “Glasgow’s Victorian architectural heritage is an extraordinary legacy that distinguishes the city and is valued and cherished by the communities that live here.”
Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said: “It is clear that this building is of inherent historic value, is a net positive contributor to the streetscape, and given the high level of physical destruction of the built environment in Finnieston and Anderston, these few surviving historic features should be a high priority for retention and promoting conversion.”
Kelvin Properties’ plans stated the “only part of this building worth saving is the front elevation and even this is tarnished by the ‘modern’ altered ground floor”.
“The entire interior would need to be reclad in insulated lining to make it fit for residential use. Retaining this section would blight the development of the rest of the site, blocking the installation of an ideal sized residential development.
“As the building is not listed, nor in a conservation area, it should be demolished to make way for a confident, contemporary design, suitable for creating sustainable and low energy properties of desirable proportions for the modern market.”
The application added: “Kelvin Properties has purchased the site with the view that it offers an excellent redevelopment opportunity in the vibrant Finnieston area of the city, an area which has attracted significant investment in recent years.”
The developer has promised a car-free development with the “highest sustainability credentials”, including all heating and hot water provided by air source heat pumps, and electricity will be generated by a significant amount of photo-voltaic (PV) panels.
“Heat will be delivered to the flats through underfloor heating,” the plans stated, adding there will be a landscaped back court and rooftop deck, with views across the city.
Cllr Hanzala Malik, who chaired the committee, proposed the application should be granted and was seconded by Cllr Cecilia O’Lone.
Cllr Jane Morgan, seconded by Cllr Eva Bolander, suggested the plans should be refused. There were seven votes in favour and three against, with councillors Morgan, Bolander and Andrew opposed.
Those in favour were: Cllr Malik, Cllr Euan Blockley, Cllr Robert Connelly, Bailie Glenn Elder, Cllr Martin McElroy, Bailie Anne McTaggart and Cllr O’Lone.
Cllr Morgan said: “There are aspects of this proposal with which I don’t have problems with, I think I’m reasonably persuaded that demolition is appropriate because of the difficulty of reuse of the building.
“The key matter with which I’m not happy is about the proposal for 11 single aspect rooms and the complete failure of the applicant to meet the requirement in planning policy that they should demonstrate that these have equivalent or better amenity than two bedroom flats.”
Single aspect flats have windows on only one wall. Council officers had advised that “all flats should ideally be dual aspect, or the developer should show that any single aspect flats enjoy similar or better amenity than dual aspect flats in a similar location”.
Cllr Connelly said he was “satisfied that demolition is probably the only way to go” and Cllr McElroy was “quite impressed” by the design, including the air source heat pump.
