Green light for flats in brownfield site a concern for Yorkhill residents
A WEST End gap site will be transformed into flats amid concerns over the stability of a former railway tunnel.
Surplus Property Solutions were granted permission to build 34 flats on Yorkhill Street yesterday, despite residents’ claims this could put pressure on a disused train tunnel beneath the site.
Architects have insisted that the two-bedroom flats, which will be built up to six storeys, could help stop antisocial behaviour in the area.
But Yorkhill Street resident Rachel Hynes said: “The site has a huge tunnel underneath running the length of Yorkhill Street, the stress of which has been hugely tested with large builds over the last five years.
“The tunnel length has had at least three student flat developments built on it since previous planning on this site was approved, including the very recent 609 ‘True’ flat, which required significant pile-driving for concrete floor removal and heavy excavation for foundations, in the last two years.
“A development of this size will have a worrying impact on the stability of the ground in the whole area.”
Hedda MacLeod, who also lives close to the site, said: “It has been pointed out to me that there is a large tunnel running beneath Yorkhill Street and that the construction of yet another new and very large development here could affect the stability of ground in the area and could thus be highly detrimental to the building in which I live.”
But Richard Brown, Glasgow City Council’s executive director of development, said: “Network Rail have not objected to the proposals and as the section of railway tunnel in question is disused and due to be infilled as part of the development, it is not considered that structural or stability issues will arise.
“There is a shortage of newbuild private sector housing identified in the Glasgow housing land supply and the re-use of brownfield sites in a residential neighbourhood is an ideal location for such development.”
letters@ eveningtimes. co.uk
The development will include two-bedroom flats with open plan kitchens, dining and living rooms and balconies.
Gary Pinkerton of Grant Murray Architects, on behalf of Surplus Property Solutions, said: “Developing the site will help reconnect the area, alleviate problems of anti-social behaviour associated with derelict land and significantly improve the visual amenity of the surroundings.”