Plans for hundreds of Glasgow riverside homes delayed due to parking

A decision on major plans to build hundreds of homes on Glasgow’s riverside has been delayed due to a parking issue.

Planning officials had recommended permission in principle could be granted to the developers behind a project which could see over 700 homes built at Lancefield Quay.

Councillors met yesterday to consider the application but, before a decision could be made, an official said a “late issue” had occurred.

“There is a problem that has been identified in terms of proposed parking provision relative to the distribution on the site and also in relation to the status of the site,” he added.

Plans show 250 car parking spaces would be included, a provision of 33%, which a council report describes as “low”. It adds the site lies “in an area of ‘below base’ public transport accessibility”.

The council official said: “The issues, because of the scale of the scheme, are significant enough that we actually think it’s appropriate to take it offline, and not present it to committee, to try and resolve this and get clarity, and hopefully bring it back to committee as soon as we can.

“I would be more comfortable presenting something that we are confident with, rather than proceeding with something that officers aren’t quite comfortable with.”

The report to councillors had said that while parking provision was low, it is “recognised that the site’s proximity to the city centre and riverside National Cycle Route 75 should provide many residents with active travel alternatives to the private car”.

“It is envisaged that the current ‘Spaces for People’ cycle lanes on Lancefield Quay will be formalised by the Council, which should help promote active travel.

“The absence of a ‘toucan’ signalised crossing facility at the Elliot Street junction is a deficiency that this proposal could deliver.”

Officials also reported that while the site “lies in an area of ‘below base’ public transport accessibility”, the Clyde Fastlink services “should still provide a viable link to the City Centre and westwards”.

“Bus services also operate on the Clydeside Expressway, with the westbound bus stop just under 400m from the site providing further links out to the West End. Anderston and the SEC Train stations are also within a reasonable walking or cycling distance of the development.”

“It is envisaged that further redevelopment of the wider area should lessen the ‘below base’ constraint and improve accessibility to public transport. It is therefore concluded that there is no need for public transport mitigation measures for the redevelopment of this site based on the proposed number of units and parking provision.”

Property development and investment firm Osborne+Co and MRP, the property arm of construction company McAleer and Rushe, are behind the scheme. They are working with Build to Rent operator Moda.

As the current application is for planning permission in principle, further details would need to be agreed through future bids before work gets under way.

Almost 20 objections have been received by the council, with concerns over the scale and height of the development, the impact on parking and traffic and a lack of green space.

However, planning officials believed the proposal would “regenerate this derelict area of ground that has been in this condition for many years” and would contribute to the council’s plan to increase the city centre population.