logo
Plans for homes at former Glasgow Garden Festival site

Plans for homes at former Glasgow Garden Festival site

Glasgow Times17-05-2025

Glasgow City Council has received an application from Surplus Property Investments, which requests permission to develop empty land at Festival Gate – near the BBC's Pacific Quay headquarters.
The old dockland was used for the Garden Festival in 1988, which attracted over four million visitors to the city.
Since the end of the festival, several projects have been proposed for the site but none have resulted in development. The firm behind the current plans was granted permission for residential, retail, office and cafe use in 2020.
READ MORE: Major airline announces new Glasgow Airport route - and kids can fly for free
But the new application states, following the pandemic, the 'market demand for office space has reduced significantly further.
'This reduction in demand led the applicant to reconsider the consented development,' it adds.
'The revised proposals will see the removal of the office and café units… as well as an increase in the number of residential units, a reduction in parking spaces, and alterations to the design of the blocks.'
The developers want to build a mix of two and three-bedroom flats, with 49 homes across two blocks. Plans state they 'do not seek a radical design departure from the prior consented scheme'. It is understood 35 homes were previously proposed.
READ MORE: Child, 7, excluded from primary school after being 'caught with knife'
A ground-floor retail unit is included and a rooftop terrace is planned on one of the blocks. There would be 32 car parking spaces.
The site was once part of Prince's Dock, which ceased to operate as a commercial dock in 1970s and lay derelict until the eastern portion was infilled in the 1980s, and became part of the Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988.
Opened by Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the festival is seen as 'a pivotal moment in the city's revival after its industrial decline.'
It was held between April and September and attractions included the 73-metre Clydesdale Bank tower, a roller coaster and vintage trams.
The wider festival site, which covered 120 acres, has been used for a range of developments, including the Glasgow Science Centre, the BBC headquarters and STV's offices.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Seaside towns in chaos as new 'Airbnb tax' proposed as 22k people wait for homes
Seaside towns in chaos as new 'Airbnb tax' proposed as 22k people wait for homes

Daily Mirror

time6 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Seaside towns in chaos as new 'Airbnb tax' proposed as 22k people wait for homes

In what could be a huge blow for second homeowners, MP Ben Maguire has presented new legislation to parliament to crack down on council tax 'dodgers' in popular seaside areas A bold new law aiming to crack down on council tax 'dodgers' in several of the UK's most beloved seaside towns has been unveiled. The Short-term Lets (Planning Permission) Bill - often touted as the 'Airbnb bill' - was presented to parliament earlier this month (Tuesday, June 3) by Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, Ben Maguire. If passed, homeowners in the region will need formal planning permission before being able to change the status of a residential property to a short-term holiday let. It seeks to close a sneaky 'loophole' that has seen second homeowners convert their properties into Airbnb-style lets without needing approval. If a person rents out their second-home as a 'self-catering accommodation' - they can claim they are a small business, allowing them to dodge paying the second home council tax premium. To successfully qualify for business rates, a short-term let must have been available to rent for a minimum of 140 days in the prior year and must have actually been rented out for at least 70 days during that period. As long as this criteria is met, many homeowners can claim they're running a small business - even if they're primarily using the property as a second home for themselves. According to the BBC, Joh Brown, CEO of Cornwall Chamber Commerce, welcomed the bill - but warned it was not a 'silver bullet'. He argued there is currently a 'surplus' of Airbnb homes in Cornwall despite a staggering 22,000 locals being put on a waiting list for secure housing. "It must sit alongside tougher regulation and a robust registration system for short-term lets," he added. "If it deters those looking to extract profit from Cornwall without putting anything back — good. If it helps restore housing stock for local people, even better." John added that the bill could be a 'win for all of Cornwall' if it allowed hospitality and tourism workers to finally find secure housing. The news follows Cornwall Council's 2023 decision to charge second homeowners double the amount of council tax to alleviate the affordability crisis crippling the county. People who leave their properties empty and unfurnished for over a year will also face a 100 per cent premium on their bill. It is estimated the new rules will bring in a staggering £25 million for the council every year. "Enough is enough," MP Ben Maguire wrote on Facebook. "Too many local families are being priced out while homes sit empty or churned through weekly rentals. This Bill is about restoring fairness in our system and giving local people a better chance at owning their own home." Due to soaring demand, many Airbnb owners can get away with charging eye-watering prices to tourists - especially during the summer season. For example, a weekend's stay in a cottage in Padstow - a popular holiday resort - would you set you back a whopping £468. This is based on four guests sharing two bedrooms.

Uttoxeter coffee shop could shut over high rates, owner says
Uttoxeter coffee shop could shut over high rates, owner says

BBC News

time13 hours ago

  • BBC News

Uttoxeter coffee shop could shut over high rates, owner says

High business rates could lead to a coffee shop closure, its owner Ingleton, who has runs Fueled Coffee in Uttoxeter for four years, said his business rates had more than doubled."We charge £3.40 for a coffee and I don't think they realise how many coffees I have to sell to get that covered before I start with the wage, rent, electric bills," he said he wanted more support from East Staffordshire Borough Council. The council said the government in recent tax years had set the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) relief at 75% of the business rates bill, but the level of relief had been reduced to 40%. He said he previously paid £3,243 in business rates charges but his bill for 2025/26 increased to £7,784."I can't carry on with these high [business] rates," he told BBC Radio Stoke. "Sometimes I feel sick, I cant sleep, I just want to stay indoors and its not motivational at all."The council say it's for small businesses, this is their chance to stand up and say its wrong."Mr Ingleton said he was passionate about the community and his business but found the current business rates were affecting his mental health. A council spokesman said the increase in business rates was due to government providing RHL businesses with a relief on their business rates charges over the last few years."In 2023/24 and 2024/25 tax years the RHL relief was set by the government at 75% of the business rates bill," they said."However for the 2025/26 tax year the level of relief has been reduced by the government to 40%." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

World Business Report  US-China trade talks: What's up for grabs?
World Business Report  US-China trade talks: What's up for grabs?

BBC News

time15 hours ago

  • BBC News

World Business Report US-China trade talks: What's up for grabs?

While the US and China negotiating teams are locked in a second day of trade talks in London, we look at the key figures and businesses caught in the middle between the World's two largest economies. With the UK announcing a multibillion dollar project to build a new nuclear power station, Will Bain discusses how Europe is trying to have greater control of its energy supply in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And why Japan is experiencing an extreme shortage of one of its staple foods - rice. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store