Plans for snooker hall and shisha deck on derelict Glasgow land refused

Plans were submitted to Glasgow City Council to regenerate a brownfield site at 55 to 57 Maxwell Road in July last year.

The applicant, Asif Nasair, of Sama Enterprise Ltd, wanted to create ‘Southside 57’, a “social hub” with drive through food stores, a pedestrian food parade, snooker and pool tables, an indoor food court and shisha deck.

Why was it rejected?

However, council planners ruled the proposed development “fails to deliver” a “distinctive, high quality neighbourhood” and “fails to adequately address a sufficient active street frontage and presence along Maxwell Road.”

They added the plan would not provide a “safe and pleasant neighbourhood.”

What were the plans?

The application stated the land, previously the home of the Caledonian Railway Engineers department, has been “in a state of steady decline for many years.”

It said: “These proposals seek to regenerate this site area into a vibrant community asset well ingrained within the culture of Glasgow’s South Side.”

No alcohol would have been sold at the site, which would have included eight food venues housed in old shipping containers and a food parade, partially vehicle free, with outdoor seating.

There were plans for 15 snooker tables and eight to 10 pool tables as well as an indoor food court with “comfortable” private booths and loose seating.

The application stated: “Events and social venues are often negatively perceived by the public and local residents due to excessive noise, crowds and anti-social behaviour, all of which are significantly exaggerated by alcohol consumption.

“Without this, the proposals at 55 to 57 Maxwell Road seek to become a welcome component of the local community and have minimal impact on the immediate surroundings, without the negative behavioural traits influenced by alcohol.

“The proposals seek to create a vibrant community asset during daytime hours and a more inward-looking social hub by night.”

It added: “The incorporation of shisha use has formed an essential component of the project brief from the outset .

“Careful consideration has been given throughout the design process to provide an appropriate space for this that is both comfortably sheltered while abiding by current legislation

“E-shisha will also be offered as a non-tobacco based alternative and the use of shisha of any kind will be restricted to designated areas.”