02-04-2025
Council decides on appeal over new takeaway proposal
A bid to overturn a council decision to refuse plans for a new takeaway in the city's south side has failed.
The developers behind a proposal to convert an empty shop at 124 Newlands Road urged councillors to reconsider after planners refused their application.
Officials had ruled the use would have a negative impact on neighbours, but an appeal on behalf of 'Newlands Takeaway' argued there was 'no evidence that the hot food takeaway would be a problem of any kind'.
However, Glasgow City Council's planning local review committee upheld the decision at a meeting on Tuesday.
The applicants planned to open the takeaway, on the ground floor of a four-storey tenement, until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 11pm over the rest of the week.
Planners decided the use would 'highly likely lead to a loss of residential amenity' to the surrounding flats and, as the site is not in a 'town centre', opening until midnight is 'not deemed appropriate'.
They also said the plan would result in 'more than 20% of the street block in hot food shop, public house or composite uses', which is against policy.
Chinese restaurant 'The Real Wan' has now moved from Newlands Road to Mount Florida. However, an official told councillors: 'We understand the existing takeaway is relocating but just bear in mind it will have planning permission to operate as a takeaway.
'It could easily come back with that kind of use. We can't assume this would be the only one in the block.'
The appeal argued that 'in terms of creating attractive and vibrant spaces it is better that all units be occupied rather than the spectre of empty and derelict units'.
It added: 'Given that within the city, almost every street is a tenemental street… it follows that properties below tenemental flats must be used for uses such as that proposed but… it is necessary to impose a series of conditions that address the potential problem areas, namely noise, odours, smells, heat and refuse management and disposal. '
'The appellant recognises this fact and has incorporated a range of measures that will ensure that these problems will not impact on residential amenity.'
However, Cllr Ken Andrew, SNP, the chair of the committee, said: 'I think there is an issue here with the current hot food takeaway on this block.
'Despite the fact it may be relocating, it still has planning permission for hot food use so we could end up with two takeaways on this block which would be more than the 20%.'
He also had concerns about a lack of 'maintenance schedule' for a flue, as it is 'problematic' when 'these flues are not properly maintained'.
Cllr Andrew added details on bin storage were required as councillors 'can't be confident that they are not planning to store refuse in the backcourt, which would affect residents'.
The council had previously rejected two applications to convert the shop into a takeaway.
