Former McVities factory site earmarked for housing

The former McVities factory site in Tollcross has been earmarked for housing in Glasgow’s draft development plan.

Pladis, the global snack foods company, announced its plan to close the biscuit factory in 2021 due to “excess capacity” in the UK.

Around 500 jobs were lost when the factory closed its doors in 2022. The site was reportedly sold to Clowes Developments in 2024, and demolition work has been carried out.

Now, a draft new development plan for the city – which is due to go out to public consultation later this year – states over 200 homes could be built on the land.

It is viewed as a long-term project which could be delivered in the final three years of the 10-year plan. Clowes and Keepmoat Homes are listed as partners.

Cllr Ruairi Kelly, SNP, the council’s convener for housing, development, built heritage and land use, said: “At the minute, it’s zoned for industrial [use], but nobody is going to build a factory now.

“We’re looking at these areas where there is a classification of land use that no longer fits what is likely to be delivered. Times have changed, and the use of the city has changed; what people expect from it is different now.

“There is just not the same requirement for industrial and commercial space.”

An action group set up in a bid to save jobs at McVities, after Pladis had announced the closure, proposed building a new factory on a nearby site.

However, the Turkish-owned firm said the proposal was not “viable”.