Developer loses appeal in bid to turn Glasgow townhouses into holiday lets

A developer’s appeal over a rejected plan to turn two Glasgow townhouses into holiday lets has been dismissed.

Gurmit Dhaliwal urged the Scottish Government to overturn Glasgow City Council’s ruling on the proposal for the B-listed Berkeley Street properties.

The appeal claimed the change would be “unobtrusive” and beneficial to the local economy. It was launched after councillors refused planning permission in January, partly due to the city’s housing emergency.

Now, Jamie Macvie, a reporter appointed by Scottish Ministers to assess the case, has turned down the appeal. He found the “proposed loss of residential accommodation… is not outweighed by demonstrable local economic benefits”.

Mr Macvie also concluded the plan would have “an unacceptable impact on local amenity due to noise”.

The applicant wanted to use eight flats across the two townhouses at 75 and 77 Berkeley Street as short-stay and tourist accommodation.

Planners at the council had said the proposal was “incompatible” with the Park conservation area and warned about the loss of residential properties.

But the appeal, submitted by STL Solutions Services Ltd, claimed the use would be “unobtrusive, given the character of the appeal property, its neighbours and the vicinity”.

“The premises are situated on a busy thoroughfare subject to heightened levels of pedestrian activity and traffic noise,” it adds, with offices nearby which “already engender a degree of comings and goings by a non-resident population”.

It also stated there is “already an established element of short-stay and other non-mainstream residential use along Berkeley Street”, including hostels.

The appeal continued: “It is contended by the appellant that, given the location of the site, there is a high probability of considerable visitor spend in the local economy flowing from the appeal use as well as a benefit to local employers.”

At the planning committee meeting earlier this year, Cllr Paul Leinster, SNP, said: “I see no reason why we should take eight homes out of use and turn them into tourist accommodation.

“There’s nothing I’ve heard and no reason I can think of why we should grant this, particularly as we’ve discussed the housing emergency we’ve declared and we are going through.”

Anderston Community Council and a neighbour had objected to the plans while six letters of support for the proposal were submitted.

The community council claimed the change of use could “worsen the Glasgow housing emergency”. Supporters said self-catering accommodation would be “a good idea in a busy, visitor-focused area”.

Mr Macvie’s report stated he had seen no evidence to indicate the flats are “unsuitable for continued use as mainstream residential flats in a mixed-use area”.

“The housing crisis is relevant in the context that the development would result in the loss of eight flats. I attach significant weight to this, including the loss of associated societal benefits of people having the opportunity to work and live in their community through the availability of mainstream residential accommodation.”