Legal bid sparks call to put campus plan on hold
RESIDENTS opposing a major housing development claim council bosses are acting like “business as usual” despite an ongoing court case.
Jordanhill Community Council has raised a judicial review against Glasgow City Council over a development at the former Jordanhill Campus.
They believe the council should put the brakes on the development, which will see 412 homes build on the site.
Yet, despite the pending action, Jordanhill Community Council claims the local authority has continued to negotiate with Cala Homes, the developer looking to build on the 35-acre site, owned by Strathclyde University.
Professor John Winfield, chairman of Jordanhill Community Council, said: “It appears council officials have continued engagement with the developer, which appears to have led to formal discharging in recent weeks of Matters Specified in Conditions.
“This directly relates to the Planning Decision Notice that granted Planning Permission in Principle which is at the heart of the Judicial Review.
“Our lawyers have told us it is considered poor practice for councils to behave in such a manner when matters are before the Courts. All the signs from the city council are that it is ‘business as usual’ and we believe the local authority is behaving in a manner that goes against natural justice.”
Almost 900 objections have been lodged with the council with residents demanding the development should be scaled down as well as offering a lasting legacy to the community.
Local residents have launched a major fund-raising drive to cover their legal costs, raising £4500 in two hours.
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council refuted the claims of the community council. He said: “Our view is that we have not done anything wrong procedurally around this issue and that we have been in dialogue with the community about the proposals for this site, although clearly we cannot have such dialogue when it comes to court action.
“All views will be taken into account when any decision is made on any planning application around this matter.
“There has been no discharging in terms of Matters Specified in Conditions at this point – this would be a matter for a committee to decide.”