Bid to build new 20-storey flats set for go-ahead from councillors
Green light predicted despite objections
EXCITING proposals for new apartments with a commercial store and rehearsal studio along the Forth and Clyde Canal are expected to be approved by councillors today.
Members of the Glasgow City Council planning committee have been recommended to grant permission for the 182 apartments on the abandoned land between Farnell Street and Sawmillfield Street despite concerns from the local community and politicians.
A total of 28 objections have been received by councillor Ken Andrew, MSP Sandra White, MP Patrick Grady and 25 residents who are worried about the scale and height of the development and how it might affect their views over Speirs Wharf.
There are also concerns that the proposals might increase traffic, car parking requirements and noise pollution.
Hoxton Securities (Glasgow) is hoping to create a buildto-rent development for 182 flats over 20 storeys with one commercial unit facing Farnell Street.
Included in the development is a rehearsal space, and a combination of open areas and shared communal facilities. A proposed access road linking Farnell Street and Sawmillfield Street would be used to service the development.
Proposed is a mixture of one, two, and three-bedroom properties as well as some studio flats with the ground floor made up of a commercial unit, lobby/seating area, bin store and cycle storage for 258 bicycles.
The area around the canal at Port Dundas has changed dramatically over the last two centuries. It became a key terminal for goods arriving in the city during the 19th century with various industries operating from sites in the vicinity. Following the decline of the canal and related industries during the 20th century, the site was most recently occupied by a Glasgow City Council cleansing depot.
In 2008, a masterplan for the area around Speirs Locks, including the application site, was adopted by the local authority.
A proposal for a student residential development was subsequently approved on the site but was never implemented.
Despite there being a number of long-established wholesale food retailers operating from warehouses in the area, the area has emerged as a hub for the creative industries due to the availability of under-utilised premises and being in close proximity to the City Centre.
Successful creative organisations including Scottish Opera at 40 Edington Street and Royal Conservatoire Scotland at 210 Garscube Road are also nearby.
The Glue Factory at 22 Farnell Street has also become a popular venue for cross-artform exhibitions and community arts events.
The National Theatre of Scotland have their national headquarters at Rockvilla and the Glasgow Sculpture Studios have occupied the former whisky bond.
It is hoped that if approved the developers will be able to help with the transformation of the area and encourage locals to take part in the creative industries.
Councillors will be presented with the planning application at this morning’s committee and will be encouraged to make a decision.
SHE has overcome cancer twice – and now mum-ofthree Laura Lawrie stars on a new Mother’s Day card designed to help save lives. Laura is pictured on the Mother’s Day card dressed in a Cancer Research UK Race for Life T-shirt after taking part in the Race for Life Pretty Muddy obstacle course at Bellahouston Park.
She raised more than £5000 for Cancer Research UK by completing the course just three weeks after finishing chemotherapy treatment and days before mastectomy surgery.
Now that photograph will help raise money for the charity too as it features on a card, sold in Tesco, for the charity.
The snap was taken on September 18, 2016, a moment Laura will always remember as it was also her daughter Charlie’s 12th birthday.
This year, Laura plans to celebrate Mother’s Day with her husband John, 40, and children, Regan, 22, Charlie, now 16, and Madison, 10.
It will also be a chance for Laura to thank her own mum, Morag Marshall, 62, who is a nurse at Wishaw University Hospital and supported her every step of the way through cancer treatment.
The 39-year-old said: “My husband was working in London when I was first diagnosed with cancer so it was my mum who was there with me in the hospital room when I was told.
“Later as treatment made me tired, mum would work a shift at the hospital then help to look after my children.
“Mum just lives down the road from us but I’m shielding from the pandemic at the moment so we have to keep a distance.
“I miss hugging mum but we still talk almost every day and I tell her that I love her.”
Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time in March 2016 and had chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumour then radiotherapy.
But on March 12, 2019, tests showed the breast cancer had returned. She had four more sessions of chemotherapy and battled life-threatening sepsis twice.
More surgery was also needed to remove the tumour followed by 15 which
2019.
Money raised through Race for Life events funds world-class research to help beat 200 types of cancer – including bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, testicular cancer, brain cancer, children’s cancers and leukaemia.
Laura, of Newmains, said: “Being a mum, I had to keep going because of my kids and the only way I could keep ahead of the situation was to keep smiling and use my humour to get through it. sessions of radiotherapy, ended on September 25,
“I’m so proud to support Race for Life and Tesco and be part of this collection of Mother’s Day cards.”
Cancer Research UK funded scientists helped prove the benefits of taking Tamoxifen after surgery for women with the most common type of breast cancer.
Around eight in 10 women now survive for at least 10 years thanks in part to this life-saving treatment.
Laura benefited from regular Herceptin injections for the first year after treatment and she still takes a Tamoxifen tablet every night. Tesco, Hallmark and Cancer Research UK will be presenting Laura with a special framed version of her Mother’s Day card to thank her for sharing her story to help other people going through cancer.
Covid-19 has caused a devastating loss of research funding with Cancer Research UK predicting a £300 million drop in income over the next three years.
The Mother’s Day cards are on sale in large Tesco stores until March 14.
For more information, raceforlife.org visit