ReGlasgow

APPROVAL For 49 Homes At Old Cathcart School Despite No Parking Spaces

4 October, 2018 | News, Residential, Schools

A CAR-free development of nearly 50 flats at a former school in Cathcart has been given the go-ahead.

Glasgow City planners approved the application to convert and extend the B-listed Holmlea building to create 38 apartments plus two new blocks containing 10 flats. The janitor’s house will also be kept.

The properties at the Holmlea Road site will be for social rent by the Home Group Scotland and Cathcart and District Housing Association

There will be 32 two-bedroom and six one-bedroom flats in the existing building and extension. Both of the new buildings will contain five two-bedroom homes.  The sports is in poor condition and will be demolished. The former playground will be used for amenity space.

The property has been on the Buildings at Risk Register for almost 14 years.

No off-street parking is provided but council officials decided that an exception could be made to policy which normally requires one space per home for new-build residential developments. There will be storage for one bicycle per property.

A report by planners states: “Previous enquiries to convert and reuse the building have stalled and the condition of the building has been inspected by officers from GCC and Historic Environment Scotland. The internal condition and the condition of the roof is such that urgent intervention is required to secure the future of the building.

“The applicant, as a register social landlord, has stated that the site provides an excellent location for affordable homes, with excellent local amenities and public transport links into the city centre and throughout the city.

“They have stated that levels of car ownership among affordable housing tenants tend to be low, and given the excellent local amenities and public transport options, they are confident in marketing the flatted properties as car-free.

“The level of residential development required to repair and restore the category B-listed building necessitates that the proposal have a minimum number of units, which allows the proposed development to be financially viable.”

The report continues: “Given previous enquiries into developing the property have stalled, and the condition of the property continues to deteriorate, it is deemed that the level of flatted properties is acceptable.

“It is deemed that there is a requirement to consider a car-free conversion of the property, in order to facilitate the extensive repairs and restoration and to protect the setting of the listed Building.

“Acceptance of this variation takes into account the proximity of local services and variety of public transport options, the condition of the listed building and the scale of works required to return the building to a habitable condition. The requirement for cycle parking at the minimum standard is also crucial to this justification.”

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