LDRSProtesters demanding a Glasgow homeless charity’s night shelter be kept open staged a demonstration inside council offices on Thursday.
Homeless Project Scotland’s latest bid to secure planning permission for the Glassford Street premises is recommended for refusal next week.
The shelter, which provides overnight accommodation and serves food to around 350 people a day, has been operating without the required permission since late 2023, and has had a previous application and an appeal rejected due to concerns over increased anti-social behaviour.
Protesters got into the council offices on John Street on Thursday morning. They could be heard shouting “save our shelter” and “shame on you”.
Police Scotland were on the scene, with officers inside and outside the building. A council spokesman said it was unable to comment on a live application. It will be considered on its merits next week, he added.
Planning permission is sought on a temporary basis, for up to five years, for the 24-hour shelter, which uses the ground floor and basement of a seven-storey building. Food is prepared off the premises and brought to Glassford Street to be served.
Planners at the council are again recommending refusal as the “development has been linked strongly to an increase in anti-social behaviour and crime in the Glassford Street locality”.
In its application, Homeless Project Scotland (HPS) argues: “We maintain our position that there are no evidential links to these claims that demonstrate the direct link between the shelter’s operation and anti-social behaviours, and that the fact that when given the opportunity, Police Scotland did not object on these grounds is further justification.”
If councillors choose to reject the application on Tuesday, the charity would have the right of appeal for up to three months. Any enforcement action would be delayed until the conclusion of the appeal.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10.25am on Thursday, September 10, 2026, officers were made aware of a crowd gathered at a building in the John Street area of Glasgow.
“Officers attended and engaged with the crowd, who later dispersed.
“There were no arrests.”
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