A DEVELOPMENT of 10 houses proposed for a disused Glasgow Southside bowling green has been approved by councillors on appeal.

City officials had refused an application proposing two terraces of five homes on a neglected section of the grounds at Cathcart Bowling Club.

Although planners had said the proposal was “well-considered” and “in keeping with the…existing townscape”, they felt it would breach policy on open space.

Their decision document stated: “The development would result in the loss of protected open space, with a significant adverse impact on the functions of the open space.

“The applicant has not sufficiently justified the loss of protected open space against policy. The proposal is therefore contrary to the strong presumption in favour of the retention of protected open space.”

Applicant Noah Developments appealed and councillors on Glasgow’s local review committee have overturned the original decision and granted approval.

The club entrance is in Ashmore Road but the land involved is further west and fronts Elrig Road.

A statement submitted with the application in August 2018 explained: “Cathcart Bowling Club has served the community for many years but, in recent times, dwindling numbers and declining interest in the core activities of the club have led to a lack of necessary investment in the facilities.

“The lack of demand has resulted in one of the bowling greens being unused and the adjoining open space also becoming unused and overgrown.

“The club have decided to release the surplus bowling green and adjacent unused ground for development and reinvest the capital receipt into improving the clubhouse and grounds and widening its scope of activities. In this way the club hopes to secure the space as a resource for the community into the foreseeable future.”

There have been mixed fortunes recently for developers proposing residential developments on disused bowling greens.

An application, also by Noah Developments, for apartments at the former Mount Florida Bowling Club was refused by councillors last month.

Meanwhile at the end of November, Nixon Blue withdrew their second attempt to develop Corunna Bowling Club in the West End and are going back to the drawing board to try and address concerns raised by planners.

Kelvin Properties successfully appealed refusal of their plan to build flats at Shawlands Bowling Club earlier this year.