ANOTHER attempt is being made to get planning approval for a 66-bed care home at the site of a redundant bowling and tennis club in Jordanhill.

Northcare (Scotland) Ltd has again submitted plans for a ‘high quality’ facility which would replace Anniesland Bowling and Tennis Club at Helensburgh Drive, which is bound on all sides by residential development. A community garden was included in the proposals.

Glasgow City planners refused permission for the original application earlier this year, saying that it would result in the loss of “demand-led open space” and would not “protect the integrity or character of the city’s natural environment”.

Their decision continued: “No justification has been made for development of the site contrary to the strong presumption in favour of the retention of this open space. The proposal therefore would adversely affect this area of protected open space and the wider green network.”

Officials also said that the proposed single point of access to the care home was of sub-standard width and gradient and “not fit for purpose for a development of this size and scale”.

A document included with the proposal states: “This application is being brought forward with changes to the previous scheme and in response and to resolve each of the given reasons for refusal.

“All of the garden areas, including the community garden will be managed and maintained by Northcare. This will make them more attractive to encourage the community to interact with them.

“This will be in contrast to the existing grounds, that have fallen into a state of disrepair following the closure of the bowling green. The old tennis courts in particular have not been maintained for a number of years, and this has resulted in a loss of visual amenity for neighbours overlooking the site.

“An agreement has also been reached with the neighbour at 103 Helensburgh Drive to purchase a narrow strip of land to provide wider site access capable of accommodating a bi-directional access drive with adjacent 1.8m wide footway. This will enhance the access to the care home and the community garden.”

Amenities at the care home would include rooftop terraces, a cocktail lounge, spa and cinema, cafe with outside terrace, and private and public garden areas.

The bowling club ceased to operate because of “dwindling patronage, coupled with overprovision in the local area”. The application states that dialogue with Sport Scotland had confirmed that there was no longer a demand for a bowling green in this location and this formal response has been confirmed to the council.

To compensate for loss of the bowling green, Northcare had agreed to pay a contribution that would allow investment in an alternative asset in a more sustainable location.

The applicant adds: “Of more immediate benefit to the local community, and to offset the loss of the recreational space afforded by the bowling and tennis club, the proposals include a community garden and also a rooftop terrace, accessible from the third floor cafe to provide new meaningful and accessible open space for use by the public.”

The statement continues: “The proposed development will provide much-needed accommodation for the ever-increasing elderly population, allowing them to live their lives with dignity and independence with specialist assistance at hand.

“It is our intention to create a care home that is a contemporary take on the traditional sandstone tenement.

“The L-shaped building will be viewed, in the main, as three storeys in height. A smaller fourth storey penthouse floor will be developed in some areas to accommodate support facilities.

“The proposal is respectful of its neighbours, with appropriate offset distances to protect existing privacy and outlook.”