PLANNING permission has been given for a car-free development of nearly 60 flats and maisonettes at a prominent gap site in Anderston.

City council officials have approved the application by Glasgow West Housing Association for vacant land bounded by Breadalbane Street, Dover Street and Argyle Street.

There will be 57 one, two and three-bedroom units — 51 flats and six maisonettes — for social rent and mid-market rent.

There will also be one ground-floor commercial unit facing Argyle Street.

A document submitted with the application by Coltart Earley Architects stated: “The final design aims to create a contemporary tenement with a controlled elegance that sits well in the context of the surrounding tenements.

“To ensure the scaleand the massing of the new development sits comfortably in the existing urban context, the top floor is set back from the main façade.

“Overall the building responds well to a historically important junction where Argyle Street and St Vincent Street meet.”

The architects said that, in developing their approach to parking, they had taken various aspects of the site into consideration including:

— It lies within a controlled parking zone.

— It is next to a priority bus corridor.

— The rail stations at Anderston, SECC and Charing Cross are 500 to 600 metres away.

— A National Cycle Network route runs 80 metres to the east.

— The city centre is within walking distance.

— There is nursery, primary and secondary school provision 80 metres to the north.

— There are two car club stances within around 500 metres.

— A wide range of shops, pubs, restaurants, health, leisure, financial and sports facilities are available within walking distance.

— The development would have a 125 per cent level of secure bicycle parking

The statement continued: “These factors, combined with the low level of car ownership among Glasgow West Housing Association tenants, and the impossibility of providing sufficient off-street parking on the site, have led to us proposing a car-free development.

“There are no new access roads or vehicle access to the back court so unregulated parking on the site will not be possible. Each flat will however have its own bicycle storage space in the lower ground floor of the block.”