Latest news with #RuairiKelly
Glasgow Times
07-08-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Old Glasgow school building to be turned into social housing
Glasgow City Council (GCC) confirmed that the former Newlands Centre in Parkhead is to be converted into flats for social rent. At a committee meeting held on Thursday, August 7, councillors gave the green light for negotiations to begin for the off-market disposal of the property at 871 Springfield Road to Wheatley Homes. The three-storey former parish school is located close to Parkhead Cross and features a small two-storey extension as well as car parking facilities. The school closed in the 1970s and has been used for various purposes, including most recently as Health and Social Care Partnership offices. It was declared surplus to council requirements in October 2024. READ NEXT: Landmark Glasgow building sold: here's what's planned On the successful completion of negotiations, Wheatley Homes will transform the building into social homes, helping to meet the local authority's housing objectives. Land at Easterhill Street in Tollcross is also being disposed of to be developed into properties for mid-market rent. Councillors approved for two plots of land on the street to be sold to New City Vision Limited. The council will receive £350,000 from the sale of this site. The two plots measure 0.7 hectares in total and are made up of a natural covering of shrubbery and thick trees. READ NEXT: Drinks menu at Oasis' upcoming Scottish gigs revealed They lie beside another privately owned vacant site, which New City Vision intend to acquire to build 90 homes for mid-market rent. GCC notes that the developer needs to secure both sites to make the development feasible. Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for Housing, Development, Built Heritage and Land Use at GCC, said: 'These disposals continue the ongoing and successful process in Glasgow of converting unproductive buildings and land into new purposes, in these cases, new and much-needed homes in Glasgow's East End. 'These new homes will meet the needs of people and families, as well as generating very welcome receipts for the public purse that will be reinvested into council services.'
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Historic Glasgow building could be taken over by community
A historic Glasgow building could be taken over by the Hall, an A-listed building in Shawlands, has been shut since 2017 for a Glasgow City Council meeting heard there had been an expression of interest in the hall via the People Make Glasgow programme – which enables communities to run councillor Ruairi Kelly said there would be hopefully be a positive outcome for the building, which could see it reopen and potentially upgraded. Langside Halls is currently on Glasgow's Buildings At Risk Register as it did not have a plan for who is convener for housing and development, said he expected further information soon. He added he hoped there would be a "positive outcome that not only reopens it to the public but entails community ownership and management and also secures the much needed funding required" for facilities there."He said the plan would "ensure that it is used as a long term asset in the community."It is understood Glasgow Life has been working with Langside Halls Trust and the local authority to bring the Shawlands building back into update on the situation was given after Scottish Greens councillor Holly Bruce asked what is happening to ensure Langside Halls is kept under council or community also said £250m has been spent over the last decade on the wider city's heritage buildings and assets. He said stewardship of the city's buildings has not always met the public's expectations."He added that the council manages 97 operational heritage properties, including the city chambers and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Update provided on plans for Glasgow's Langside Halls
SNP councillor Ruairi Kelly said there will hopefully be a 'positive outcome,' which will see the A-listed building reopen and potentially upgraded. It comes as he told councillors that £250 million has been spent over the last decade on the wider city's heritage buildings and assets. Langside Halls, which was added to the Buildings At Risk Register as it didn't have a plan for occupancy, has been shut since 2017 for repairs. Councillor Kelly, convener for housing and development, said work has been taking place on an 'expression of interest in the People Make Glasgow programme' – which enables communities to run venues. He told a full council meeting that he 'expects to have information' for councillors very soon and there will hopefully be a 'positive outcome that not only reopens it to the public but entails community ownership and management and also secures the much-needed funding required' to upgrade facilities. READ MORE: MSP says 'think out the box' for closed A-listed building development He said the plan would 'ensure that it is used as a long-term asset in the community.' It is understood Glasgow Life has been working with Langside Halls Trust and the council to bring the Shawlands building back into use. The update on the situation was given at full council last week after Scottish Greens councillor Holly Bruce asked what is happening to ensure Langside Halls is kept under council or community ownership. Commenting on wider efforts to protect Glasgow's historic architecture for the entire city, Councillor Kelly said the buildings can be a 'burden' if not looked after. He said: 'To walk through Glasgow on any given day is to be reminded of what an incredible cultural asset our built heritage is but also what a burden it can become if not responsibly handled. Glaswegians know all to well how our collective stewardship of these privileged assets has not always met their expectations.' READ MORE: Send us photos of your June newborn to appear in Glasgow Times He continued: 'That is the principal reason that my colleague and predecessor, the late councillor McLean, set up the Built Heritage Commission, which I have been glad to attend under Councillor Ghani's co-chairship. 'While we cannot shirk from the mistakes that have been made in the past, it is also important that people who live here know what we are doing with some of the city's most beloved buildings. The bottom line is this council has spent over a quarter of a billion pounds on our heritage assets over the last decade.' He was responding to a question from SNP councillor Zen Ghani on how the council is protecting the city's built heritage. He said the money is spent on maintenance, preservation, refurbishment and redevelopment opportunities and promotion of community use among other work. He said the council manages 97 operational heritage properties, including the city chambers and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Glasgow Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow council not reimbursed for demolition of India buildings
Demolition of the site on Bridge Street, which had floors missing over five storeys, started in April last year with the final cost expected to be at least £1 million. During Thursday's full council meeting, councillor Stephen Docherty asked if the council had been reimbursed yet for the work but was advised by the convenor of Housing, Development Built Heritage and Land Use that the money had not yet been acquired. (Image: India Buildings) READ NEXT: This check will happen before Clyde Tunnel toll charge could be rolled out READ NEXT: Lout caused havoc in Glasgow McDonald's while holding scissors Councillor Ruairi Kelly said: 'At this stage the council has not yet been reimbursed for the India Building on Bridge Street which took place in April last year. 'The site comprises three interconnected buildings constructed at different times with only the Oxford Street section remaining. The demolition of the two older buildings was carried out under emergency powers due to safety concerns. 'Ownership of the site is complex, involving multiple parties and title transfers, some of which are still in probate potentially. 'This has raised questions around the fairer apportionment of demolition costs, particularly whether owners of parts of the remaining building had no stake in the demolished section should bear any liability. 'A charging order under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 is being prepared to secure the debt once these legal and ownership matters are resolved. 'This order once registered allows the council to recover costs with interest over time. We're also continuing to press the owners to carry out essential repairs to the remaining Oxford Street building which remains partially unsafe and unoccupied. 'The site is part of an ongoing discussion within the North Laurieston masterplan and there was a really good public session on that and we remain committed to ensuring public safety while perusing all available avenues for cost recovery.'
Glasgow Times
21-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow heritage trusts receive fresh funding for 2025/26
Glasgow City Council has approved a total of £290,000 for the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT) and the Glasgow City Heritage Trust (GCHT) for the 2025/26 financial year. The trusts provide specialist support and financial assistance to individuals and community groups looking to invest in Glasgow's heritage assets and play a central role in the city's newly established Built Heritage Commission. Read more: New lab aiming to become world's most advanced opens in Glasgow Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for built heritage and development at Glasgow City Council, said: "These trusts are key partners for the council and the city in the work done to protect and develop Glasgow's built heritage. "The funding now approved for the next year will allow them to continue the very valuable work that they do in what can be a challenging environment for heritage buildings – work that is important economically, culturally and preserving our unique built heritage and identity." The GBPT will receive £50,000 in core funding, while the GCHT will receive £240,000—split between £50,000 in core funding and £190,000 in grant funding. Established in 1982, the GBPT focuses on redeveloping historic buildings that are not viable for other organisations. Recent projects include the Kelvingrove Bandstand and the West Boathouse in Glasgow Green. Over the past year, the trust has explored the potential return of historic janitor's houses as social housing and conducted feasibility studies for sites such as the Lion Chambers, Langside Halls, and the Queens Park Glasshouse. It also organises the annual Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival, which this year attracted more than 30,000 visitors to 230 events. The GCHT, established in 2007, offers grants to owners of heritage buildings, supporting both small repairs and large restorations. To date, the trust has awarded more than 2,170 grants. Read more: Busy spot in Glasgow city centre to close for over month In the past year, it supported 20 projects with funding totalling £643,284, unlocking more than £4.4 million in total project investment. Recent supported projects include repairs to the Bell o' the Brae tenements, the Pyramid building (formerly Anderston Kelvingrove Parish Church), and the A listed landmark tower at Trinity College. The GCHT runs outreach and training programmes to develop skills in conservation trades, and offers educational resources including exhibitions, lectures, podcasts, and workshops. Both trusts also receive annual funding from Historic Environment Scotland.
