Officials voice concerns over controversial development
Lansdowne
ACTION group Lansdowne Watch are campaigning to westend officials in an ongoing battle against plans to build a student complex on North Woodside Road.
Last week, residents met with Woodside community council and developer Joe Logan, who has submitted an application to Glasgow city council to replace the Pewter Pot pub with a 114-room student housing facility.
The design by Logan Factoring and Management is an attempt to mimic the tenement previously standing on the spot — but for neighbours living in two and three storey houses, the scale of the proposed seven storey building is unacceptable.
Lansdowne Watch has been asking supporters to write formal objections to Glasgow city council — the closing date for which was yesterday — as well as lobbying neighbours to get in touch with their local councillors and MSP Sandra White.
The community council opposed the plan by a vote of six to two last week – and this week, The Extra put the question to the Kelvin MSP, as well as Hillhead councillors Kenneth Elder and Martha Wardrop.
Sandra White commented: “I have met with Mr Logan, and also constituents who are against the proposal.
“I’m concerned about the size of the development and that there has been no firm confirmation from Glasgow university regarding it”.
She added that she would be happy to meet with all concerned — including the university, which has shown support for the development but has no established links with it at present – to discuss the matter further.
Councillor Kenneth Elder echoed the same concerns.
He told The Extra: “I’ve had both objections and messages of support sent to me so there are a variety of comments and it’s something of a hot topic”.
He continued: “It’s not a black and white issue, because there is a need to provide quality postgraduate student accommodation.
“But there are aspects which concern me in terms of the quality of the development and the way the building itself will sit – in the landscape and in the local community.
“While I’m not opposed to the development of student housing, I do have concerns about this specific application and I think there are some points that planning officers will have to address”.
Meanwhile Green councillor Wardrop, who attended last week’s community council meeting, took a stronger stance, stating: “The proposed seven storey block with roof garden is not appropriate - it’s an overdevelopment of the site.
“I strongly oppose this proposal as the architecture and design are not in keeping with neighbouring homes along North Woodside Road.
“It would be a major visual intrusion into the local community, damaging the views along the River Kelvin and the outlook from West End’s conservation area”. With representations of support and opposition to be counted and taken into account, the future of the Pewter Pot site now lies with Glasgow city council’s planning committee.
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Thursday 20 June 2013
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