Three-acre site of fire-hit primary school set to be sold to housing association

A former primary school site is set to be sold to a housing association with plans for over 30 homes.

Sanctuary Scotland could buy the land where the fire-hit Yoker Primary School once stood, as well as the empty caretaker’s bungalow, on Craggan Drive.

The whole site, which stretches to more than three acres, would then be used for an “affordable residential housing scheme”.

A council report states the bungalow would be demolished as part of the project. Councillors will be asked to support negotiations over a sale at a meeting next week.

Plans for 28 homes on the site were previously approved in 2021. That application, from Yoker Housing Association, had also included demolition of the bungalow.

Sanctuary Scotland is now planning to provide “social rented accommodation” on the land, according to the council report. It states: “Current proposals indicate a development of approximately 33 residential units comprising a mix of houses and flatted accommodation to meet a range of housing needs.”

It adds: “For the avoidance of doubt, the proposed number of units, housing mix, dwelling types, layout and overall density remain indicative at this stage and may be subject to change following detailed site investigations, technical assessments, design development and the planning process.”

The primary school was closed in June 2017 and knocked down in 2019 after a fire, which was treated as “wilful” at the time. The bungalow was vacated in October 2019.

Yoker Primary and nearby Garscadden Primary both closed in 2017, with pupils moving into the new Clyde Primary campus, which is shared with St Brendan’s Primary and Yokerburn Nursery.

The council report adds: “The north west corner of the site will be sterilised from development due to a Scottish Water pipeline infrastructure project which will affect the density and size of the development opportunity.”

Terms of the deal will be agreed with Sanctuary Scotland if councillors give the go ahead to officials on Thursday.

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