Flats and houses scheme for former monastery site
Plans to convert a neglected Lanarkshire listed building into nine flats and build 19 houses in its grounds were given the go-ahead this week.
Applicant Silvano Pisano was granted planning permission in principle for the scheme at the former Greyfriars monastery site in Uddingston by South Lanarkshire’s planning committee on Tuesday.
The proposals for the historic sandstone villa and four- and five-bedroom homes by the banks of the Clyde and North Calder rivers had attracted four letters of objection.
These included one from Uddingston Community Council, who expressed concern about the area’s green belt designation, the risk of flooding, and ‘piecemeal development’.
But planning chief Michael Mcglynn told councillors that statutory consultees had raised no objection to the scheme and those which had been lodged with planners were not sufficient to merit the refusal of the application.
The amended plans, he pointed out, were considered acceptable by SEPA and the council’s flood risk management team.
The Grade-b listed building, which dates from the early 19th century, had formerly been called Clydesdale House and was named Greyfriars when Capuchin friars took it over in 1949.
It has been subject to a number of planning applications in recent years which had failed to materialise. The building had been lying vacant when, in October 2013, a fire broke out and its roof collapsed.
Mr Mcglynn told councillors on Tuesday: “[The] current application will provide funding for the refurbishment of the existing listed building on site, which given the remoteness of the site the building has become the target for vandalism.
“It can only be a matter of time before irreparable damage occurs, and this proposal will bring it back into beneficial use as residential flats.
“It is noted that prior to its use as a monastery, the building has been used as a dwelling house.
“The proposed siting and design of the proposed houses will not detract or impact adversely on the listed building or its setting.”
A listed building application for Greyfriars has also been submitted by Mr Pisano which is to be determined under delegated powers.
Mr Mcglynn also told councillors that the site had been assessed for its impact on protected species and tree preservation, but no “significant issues or concerns” had been raised on these matters.
It was considered appropriate that further assessments on these matters be undertaken “as part of any detailed submissions”.
The plans had initially comprised 20 homes in the monastery grounds, but the number was reduced by one due to flood risk concerns.
Mr Mcglynn explained that SEPA had originally objected to the proposal on the grounds of flood risk, but had withdrawn the objection “on the basis of revised information provided by the applicant and the removal of one unit from the flood area.”