Docks plan is rejected
PLANS for a major retail and hotel development on a historic Glasgow site have been rejected.
Planning chiefs said the proposals for Govan Graving Docks failed to preserve the site’s “architectural interest”.
PLANS for a massive hotel and retail development on Glasgow’s historic Govan Graving Docks have been turned down by the council.
Developers New City Vision, who own the site, lodged proposals for more than 700 flats, a museum and heritage centre, restaurant, shopping and office space, and a 195-bedroom hotel.
Planning bosses rejected the proposal due to a failure to preserve the site’s “special architectural and historic interest.”
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) previously insisted that development would be susceptible to flooding after being consulted by Glasgow City Council three times.
The Clyde Docks Preservation Initiative welcomed the decision describing it as “great news”.
A report by the authority states that the submission was “surprisingly poor given the scale of development proposed and significance of the Govan Graving Docks” adding that those involved failed to justify numerous tall buildings and the density of the development.
City planners took umbrage with the fact that the eastern part of the site is comprised “almost entirely” of category A-listed structure.
Developers had hoped to build more than 500 flats across nine tall buildings, up to 15 storeys in height in place of the structure.
Parking provision was described as “drastically insufficient for the scale of development proposed” by the planning committee.
More than 1700 people signed a petition calling on Glasgow City Council planning department to serve a repairs notice on the owners of the A-listed docks, for restoration of the docks and the pump house to their original condition, to pave the way for a compulsory purchase.
The privately-owned yard was closed in 1988 and has since lain derelict.
The Buildings at Risk Register describes it as an “outstanding complex, unique in Scotland”.
Paul Sweeney Labour MP
The owner of the site has owned for a number of years and has done nothing
for Glasgow North East said the issue with the plans was that they were ‘grossly overdeveloped to make it stack up’.
He added: “The owner of the site has owned for a number of years and has done nothing with the site.
“He’s essentially land banked it to get planning permission to sell on the site for an inflated price.
“Jim McColl of Ferguson shipbuilders in Port Glasgow has submitted plans to restart the docks as a commercial shipbuilding facility.
“It would be used for industrial use but would also open it up to the public as well and making it into a Maritime Museum.
“The site is a linchpin that brings the regeneration of the Clydeside together. It ties together the Pacific Quay Science Centre, across to Govan and down into the Riverside Museum. It’s the keystone so opening it up has so much potential.”
Govan Councillor Allan Young added: “I’m not surprised by the decision to withhold planning permission for this proposal.
“The Govan Graving Docks is a site of great historical importance and I fail to see how building high towers of hundreds of expensive flats does it justice.
“Instead we need a proper plan, developed by the community, to protect the listed pump house and celebrate the importance of the site, creating jobs and visitors for years to come”
Govan is currently the subject of four major development plans including a new £67million social hub in Pacific Quay.
Restaurants, cafes, homes and a £10m whiskey distillery are all outlined in plans.
Buchanan Wharf is being earmarked as a business centre, with Barclay’s Bank already committing to developing a new headquarters.
Plans have been lodged to build 348 homes, commercial units and food and drink premises at Glasgow Harbour, near the Transport Museum.