Convent to be knocked down for flats
A FORMER convent in Langside can be knocked down to make way for flats despite council planners recommending the proposal should be refused.
Glasgow’s planning committee has approved a proposal to build 16 homes for private sale across a five- storey block on a site at 32 Mansionhouse Road, currently occupied by a sandstone villa which was formerly part of the Bon Secours Hospital.
Officials believed the plan should be rejected as it would “unacceptably harm the amenity of existing properties at 36A Mansionhouse Road due to loss of daylight to habitable rooms”.
There were also almost 80 objections from members of the public, with opponents calling for the building to be saved.
Planners initially said the project could go ahead, but changed their recommendation when new information on how the planned flats could cause a loss of daylight to nearby homes was received.
Representatives for the applicant, Surplus Property Investments Ltd, argued the “single issue” of daylighting should “not be significant enough on its own to change the position from one of support to refusal”.
After a hearing this week, one of the objectors, Peter Kelly of Camphill Avenue, said residents had been “shocked and disappointed” by the decision.
“Not only does it fly in the face of the recommendation to reject the planning application from their own officials, but it is contrary to the view of the local community council and 78 residents that lodged complaints.
“It also goes against the stated intentions of council policy to retain historic sandstone buildings in Glasgow whenever possible. Instead of listening to local people and their own officials, councillors have opted to side with developers in construction of more luxury flats.”
The planning committee voted seven to two in favour of granting planning permission, with only the chair, councillor
Ken Andrew, SNP, and councillor Kenny McLean, SNP, supporting the view of officials.
Councillor Thomas Kerr, Conservative, said: “We have seen what has happened in Bridge Street [ India Buildings roof collapse] to buildings that end up in a state of disrepair. I’m worried the longer we leave this building, the longer that’s going to be the situation it could be in.”
He added the city is facing a “housing crisis” and the daylighting issue is a “minor detail”.
“I don’t think that’s a reason to refuse,” he said.
“I believe no matter how we try to develop on this site, because of the nature of the site it is going to be tricky.”
Councillor Andrew said he acknowledged the housing crisis, but “producing buildings that are then impacting on other residents is not the way forward. That’s how we end up with over- concentration of housing.”
Officials reported the building isn’t listed or within a conservation area and the developers have shown restoration isn’t “financially viable”.
The report added the proposals would have “a negative effect on at least four habitable rooms” at 36A Mansionhouse Road. “In all cases, this is the sole source of natural light to these rooms,” it stated.
An official told the hearing that the planning department has “started to take a more considered approach to the assessment of daylighting”.
“Previously we had not picked up the failure to these properties,” he said.
Gary Mappin, director at Iceni Projects, the applicant’s agent, said: “In my experience it would be unusual for a development of this nature, in such a location, to fully satisfy daylight and sunlight criteria.”