Glasgow takeaway 'in shipping container' set to open despite objections

A new takeaway is set to open in a shipping container next to a Glasgow convenience store – despite planners recommending the plans were refused.

Council officials advised Glasgow’s planning committee that the application for land beside a shop at 120 Acre Road should be rejected.

An earlier proposal had been turned down as planners believed it was “poorly designed” and did not have “adequate” waste storage or “suitable” ventilation to disperse cooking fumes.

However, councillors voted in favour of approving a revised scheme, after the applicant, Rabnawaz Hussain, changed his plans.

A container, clad in timber, can be installed as an extension to ‘Acre Store’, which is near Acre Community Hall, and will serve rolls, toasties, sandwiches, chips and hot and cold drinks.

Mr Hussain had reduced the length of the shipping containers, added the cladding and offered to provide three bins in the second application.

Planning officials had reported the “siting of a shipping container for use as a hot-food takeaway would result in a development that would detract from the visual appearance of the building”, adding it would not “provide suitable nor adequate waste storage”.

They added: “While there is some space to the side of the shipping container for additional bins, this is not enclosed and would likely lead to waste not being contained adequately.”

Three objections, raising concerns over anti-social behaviour and litter, were sent to the council, but 23 letters of support were also received.

Planning committee chairman,Councillor Ken Andrew, SNP, suggested the application should be refused, however his motion was defeated, by eight votes to four, by an amendment from Councillor Thomas Kerr, Conservative.

Councillor Andrew said: “It’s clearly not appropriate for the waste for this business to be kept in the public realm which appears to be suggested.”

He said the rubbish issue gave him “great concern” not least because: “There seems to be some issue of anti-social behaviour.

“I think that poses a major problem for the area. It all looks reasonably tidy but that could all unwind rather badly.”

Councillor Imran Alam, Labour, added the “congregation of youth” could potentially cause “issues for local residents”.

However, Councillor Kerr said three bins would be added outside the shop under the plan, and councillors were “purely speculating” about anti-social behaviour.

“I know this area pretty well,” he added. “It actually is a very attractive area. We are purely speculating on objection where we don’t have any evidence to back up what has been said.”

He said anti-social behaviour can’t be linked to the store and there was a risk of “condemning a small business who is trying to make a living here, with what I think would be quite a good addition to the place”.

Plans submitted to the council revealed the opening hours will be between 8am and 8pm from Monday to Saturday and from 8am to 5pm on Sunday.