Council update on Glasgow flats plan after protest
Noah Developments wants to provide 32 homes at Mount Florida bowling club, but its proposal has sparked opposition in the community.
Campaigners, who surrounded the club on Saturday to show their support for 'one of Mount Florida's only remaining green spaces', will now have a chance to address the committee.
The developers and supporters of the project will also have an opportunity to speak.
Noah's plans went before councillors on Glasgow's planning committee this morning. Committee chairman Cllr Ken Andrew, SNP, proposed a hearing 'given the amount of interest in this, both positive and negative'.
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However, Cllr Imran Alam, Labour, suggested councillors should make a decision today (Tuesday). He said: 'I personally think we have enough information to make a decision today.'
There were five votes for a hearing and three against. The council received 280 objections to Noah's plans and 130 letters of support.
Under Noah's proposal, the eastern half of the site would become publicly accessible open space including a 'retained and refurbished' clubhouse. A legal agreement is planned to ensure public access is maintained.
The developers have said it intends to hand the open space and clubhouse to a community organisation to run but will maintain it itself if no group comes forward.
But Mount Florida Community Trust, which was formed by residents in 2019 with the aim of purchasing the site, wants to retain all of the 'irreplaceable' green space.
It said over 120 residents gathered to 'hug' the club on Saturday, demonstrating how much the community values the land.
After the meeting, Cllr Holly Bruce, Greens, whose Langside ward includes Mount Florida, said: 'This housing development does not meet the social or environmental needs of the Mount Florida community.'
She said that 800 people signed a petition in support of keeping the green space in its entirety, adding: 'This development will mean a large loss of green space in a community that is already deficient in quality and accessible green space, it even goes against the council's own open space strategy.'
Cllr Bruce also believes the developers would be building 'even more unaffordable housing during a housing emergency'. 'Rents in Mount Florida are through the roof and social housing waiting lists are ridiculously long,' she added. 'Expensive, deluxe housing is not what Glasgow is crying out for.'
Council planners have recommended the project can be approved, stating it would bring a 'derelict brownfield site back into active use'.
It is Noah's second attempt to secure planning permission after an original proposal for 40 homes was rejected in 2020. An appeal to the Scottish Government failed too.
The city's planning committee did give the green light for Mount Florida Community Trust's plan for the site, which included retaining the clubhouse and southern bowling green and installing a tennis court and fitness area.
But Noah owns the land and the trust's planning permission has now expired. Members voted to close the bowling club, founded in 1909, at the end of the 2019 season due to 'falling membership numbers'.
Noah has said it took on board feedback from its failed appeal, resulting in a scaled back development and retention of the clubhouse.
It believes the redevelopment would provide 'much needed housing', which will 'enable the funding and the creation of a significant community open space and community hub occupying 50% of the site, to be gifted at no cost to the local community'.
In a report to councillors, planners stated SportScotland has advised there is 'a clear excess of provision' of bowling greens in the area and the loss of the facility is accepted.
They add the proposed agreement will ensure 'ongoing public access to the open space, clubhouse and maintenance of the space'.
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