Glasgow restaurant ordered to tear down outdoor storage unit by council planners

A Glasgow restaurant will be told to tear down its outdoor storage unit after a city council committee refused to grant planning permission.

The metal container was developed last year within the grounds of a shared backcourt behind Brett, a modern European restaurant at 321 Great Western Road in Kelvinbridge.

A retrospective planning application was then submitted to the planning department and refused on the grounds that it was not considered to be in accordance with the local development plan.

Planning chiefs determined that the unit would reduce backcourt space which is used not only by Brett but other commercial properties as well as residents.

Concerns from neighbours included the fact that the outbuilding was built without the landowners’ consent and had displaced bins throughout the backcourt, which now restricts access and blocks external doors, including fire escapes.

The building also blocks access to properties in case of emergency, prevents access for repair, and could potentially increase vermin. The proposed use was also lacking in detail.

But the applicant argued that the land where the outbuilding was constructed was no more than a ‘dumping ground’ for commercial bins, pallets, waste materials and gas bottles.

The proposals were brought before the planning local review committee this morning.

Councillor Eva Bolander said: “I have concerns in respect of this [application] and especially as it is about to take over even more space which belongs to the other people and residents living in the block.

“I find it concerning that we have businesses just dictating space without actually getting the proper consent in place prior.

“That relates both to consent from the neighbouring residents as well as from the planning department. I would be minded to uphold the decision for refusal of this.”

Councillor Sean Ferguson added: “I am usually quite wary when applicants think it is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission so I am also minded to uphold the refusal.”

The decision to refuse was unanimous.