Plans approved for retail unit at Downiebrae Road
Planning permission has been granted for a major development near Farme Cross.
Councillors on a planning committee yesterday, Tuesday, gave their backing to the project that will see a 2,323 square metre retail unit built on Downiebrae Road.
The development will also include a leisure unit of the same size, two hot food takeaway units of 372 square metres each and a 560 square metre restaurant.
Planning permission in principle was given for the site, which is currently occupied by Sanmex, who manufacture aerosols.
It is believed they are seeking new premises elsewhere in the area as their current base is too big for their needs.
It was initially suggested the development would include a four-storey hotel and 96 homes but these have been dropped from the application due to concerns about flooding raised by SEPA.
The plan is being taken forward by a group called Alberg LLP, whose address is listed as the same as Sanmex.
Steven Groden, managing director of Sanmex, is a director at Alberg, but when the Reformer contacted him he said no-one was there to discuss the proposal.
We also contacted the applicant’s agent, GVA James Barr, but no-one was available for comment before we went to press.
An exhibition event advertising the initial plan was held at Rutherglen Town Hall in 2014.
In a report, councillors were advised: “The proposed retail development will have a negligible impact on the performance of the town centre and neighbouring centres in terms of convenience floorspace and can be supported by the area’s catchment population.
“In addition, it is considered that the overall development will contribute to the local economy and assist in regenerating a prominent site within the Clyde Gateway complementing the regeneration strategies for the area.”
The proposal is one of several for the Farme Cross area.
Plans are already in place for the ambitious, £15million Two74 project that could create around 500 jobs while KFC are working on a new store beside the McDonald’s on Dalmarnock Road.
A new woodland park on Cuningar Loop will also open fully to the public this year while new office space has been created by Clyde Gateway at Rutherglen Links.