Council refuses to green light student accommodation

Council refuses to green light student accommodation

Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, and Angus Millar, SNP councillor for Anderston/City ward, have welcomed the decision by Glasgow city councillors today (Tuesday) not to grant permission for a student accommodation development in Glasgow city centre.

Thewliss, who along with many other local residents and organisations, objected to the proposals to build a large student accommodation complex directly in front of Glasgow School of Art’s iconic Mackintosh building.

Councillors on the planning committee met today and refused to give the green light to developers.

Ms Thewliss said:

“Like many others, I was pleased to learn today that permission has not been granted for yet another monolithic student development which would dwarf an iconic part of Glasgow’s skyline.

“The decision not to grant planning permission is very much welcomed. Moving this application to a full hearing will provide an opportunity to further expose the folly of these plans, and highlight the significant misgivings the local community have about this wholly inappropriate development.

“The wider point to all of this is that our city centre has become entirely saturated with student accommodation. Without a comprehensive student housing strategy in Glasgow, there is no means of establishing the need for this type of accommodation; throwing up endless student blocks in the city centre simply isn’t the answer.”

Anderston/City SNP councillor Angus Millar, who also lodged an objection to the proposals, added:

“I am pleased that this application has been knocked back to a planning hearing, and as a local councillor I hope to attend and argue against these proposals, which are overwhelmingly opposed by the community.

“The Mackintosh Building is a unique part of Glasgow’s cultural heritage and any development must respect and enhance the character of the area – unlike these deeply damaging plans to throw up yet more private student accommodation.”

1 thought on “Council refuses to green light student accommodation

  1. We are delighted that the Council have seen sense, here’s hoping that it’ll be knocked ack by the planning hearing! Fingers crossed.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.