Council throw out appeal to plans to ‘cram’ asylum seekers into old Castlemilk care home

An appeal to overturn a decision that refused proposals to convert a former Castlemilk care home into temporary asylum seeker accommodation has been refused.

Glasgow City Council’s planning local review committee rejected the application because the applicant, Mack Residential, wanted to “cram” 200 people into a space previously used to home 88.

Plans for the old Torbrae Care Home on Bogany Terrace were denied in June last year.

The company, who has also taken the appeal to the Scottish Government, said that no interest has been shown in the site since 2014 when the care home closed.

Residents would have been able to stay at the home for two to three weeks while their asylum status is determined. However, Councillors felt that the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers was more important than this.

Councillor Anne McTaggart said: “Some of the most vulnerable people in our city will need to use a service like this and they will require specific support.

“They will be experiencing trauma, PTSD and extreme stress.

“When the care home operated with 88 residents it was very chaotic.”

Members agreed that it was not appropriate to home a large group of people in one area.

Councillor Cecilia O’Lone said:“This is an emotional subject and it is about raising our housing standards. “We would not accept this normally.” Following the discussion councillors agreed that the decision previously made by their colleagues had been the right one and that it should be upheld.

Councillor Michael Cullen said: “I agree with my colleagues.

“Having read the planning papers I believe that we should uphold the former decision for refusal.

Council officers are expecting to hear back from Scottish Ministers, with their decision, in due course.

It’s an emotional subject as it’s about raising our housing standards. We wouldn’t accept this normally