COUNCILLORS approved a plan to demolish a Glasgow South Side car showroom and build a ‘high quality’ care home.

Glasgow’s planning committee agreed Northcare (Scotland) Ltd ‘s application to build a 72-bedroom facility — complete with its own cinema, cocktail bar and hair salon — on the site of the Harry Fairbairn Mini dealership on Kilmarnock Road, Newlands.

Planning officers had recommending that planning permission be granted, saying that appropriate measures have been taken to reduce “the perceived mass of the building” compared with its immediate neighbours “allowing it to sit comfortably within its residential context”.

A design statement submitted with the application explained: “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.

“The site is in a sustainable location within an established suburban location providing direct access to a range of services and facilities there within, and local amenities.”

It continues: “In addition to high quality living accommodation, this facility offers residents and visitors a high specification of additional accommodation.

“This creates a destination space offering residents the opportunity of a ‘day out’ without the need to leave the facility.”

The spaces include a cafe and cocktail bar (both with external terraces), plus a hair salon, cinema and private dining room. There would also be a residents’ garden.