PLANS for a residential development have been drawn up for the site of a landmark B-listed former church in south Glasgow.
AS Homes Scotland is proposed 36 flats for social rent on land bounding Carmunnock Road, Glenacre Street and Glenacre Terrace.
The site contains the former Castlemilk West Church building which was constructed in the late 1950s and is known locally as Noah’s Ark.
Demolition of the church was approved by Glasgow City Council in 2012 on condition it only takes place if a definite plan for the site is confirmed, including planning consent and signed contracts.
Permission was given after it was shown that repairs would cost £320,000, that there was no market interest for the structure and that converting it would in any case lead to the loss of many original features.
Historic Environment Scotland’s statement of special interest for the building describes it as a “powerful composition, redolent of Festival of Britain detailing, echoing, for example, the lines of the Royal Festival Hall, London, 1951”.
It adds: “The design makes clear and effective reference to a symbolic ‘ark’ and apparently the church is referred to as such.”
When city officials renewed demolition consent in 2018 they stated: “The building itself is typical of 1950s architecture and incorporates key features such at its arc roof design.
“Over the recent decades, the building has fallen into disrepair and is currently in poor condition. An obvious example of this is the loss of the central spire in recent years.”
AS Homes Scotland is proposing three four-storey blocks with a mixture of one and two-bedroom flats.
Documents submitted with the application state the development will have high quality materials and design “contributing to place-making aims in creating a distinctive and positive identity”.
The documents continue: “The design of the development will be focused on maximising the area of amenity space provided to residents.
“The site offers excellent opportunities for community interaction due to it’s location between a number of key residential developments.
“As such, a key strategy in integrating the development into it’s locality would be to utilise an area on the site to create a dedicated playspace. This will help to establish a focal point in the streetscape.”
The application is pending consideration by city planners.