‘Collapsed’ historic building was taken down by hand amid concerns over structure’s safety
PLANNING applications have been submitted to rebuild a historic A-listed house in Glasgow’s west end.
The 170-year-old property in Kirklee Terrace Lane was “taken down by hand” amid safety concerns, according to a new report by the contractors CBC Stone.
Glasgow City Council previously said it had “collapsed” during building works. The local authority was first notified by neighbours “a few days after the collapse,” according to a spokesman.
But a report attached to a planning application for “partial demolition of dwellinghouse and erection of replacement dwellinghouse”, submitted by owner Michel Soukop, appears to contradict this position.
The document provided by CBC Stone states: “With the failure of the inner face of mortar and due to the existing external face of the stonework being painted it was considered prudent that the stonework above the new rear elevation opening had to be taken down by hand and laid aside.”
The contractors inspected the front of the house and found it had also “failed”, according to the report.
It stated: “Again it was considered prudent to to take down the stonework laying aside as much as possible the original stone, however very little was recoverable as the petrographic analysis has found that the stone sample sent had been found to be very damaged.”
Their agent was director of Larkhall-based ALS Planning Ltd, Alistair Macdonald, who was head of Planning, Development and Regeneration Services at Glasgow City Council until March 2013.
A source close to the contractor CBC Stone said the new building “won’t look materially different to how it looked previously,” if permission is granted.
Michel Soukop bought 11 Kirklee Terrace Lane for £605,000 in 2014 and was granted planning permission to upgrade the property shortly after.
A council spokesman said: “Our understanding is that following the works to this property, the building suffered a collapse. Our focus is very much on the reinstatement of this very important building.”