Plans approved for Shawlands Arcade flats despite objections

Plans have been approved to build 329 flats on the Shawlands Arcade site despite worries about no social housing.

There will be three buildings measuring from five to 14 storeys with a central plaza at the Kilmarnock Road site in Pollokshields. The build-to-rent properties include 14 studios, 166 one-bedroom homes, 145 two-bedroom flats and four apartments with three bedrooms.

The ground floor is to have retail space with shops and other services. It is the first phase of two planned for the development and faced 186 objections. There have also been 68 letters of support from members of the public however, and the plans also include a new children’s play area.

Objecting, councillor Norman MacLeod, SNP, said there is a lack of housing mix that takes into account Scottish Government guidance. He said: “I thought we were trying to have mixed communities as opposed to all sort of one.”

Councillor MacLeod said: “91 per cent of these households will have nowhere to park their car. Shawlands is hugely crowded already with car parking.”

A representative speaking on behalf of the applicants, Clydebuilt LP C/o Ediston Real Estate, said: “As it stands the existing arcade provides only 17 per cent public realm whereas the new development will provide just over a shade of 50 per cent public realm which is a massive improvement.”

He said there will be a £150 million construction investment for the two phases creating 150 jobs – with the completed project to support 240 permanent roles. The “mix of units in our design has been informed by a demographic analysis of Shawlands and the wider Glasgow area based on current demand.”

A transport consultant advising on the development said: “We have carried out detailed accessibility analysis which demonstrates that Shawlands has all the ingredients needed to make a successful 20 minute neighbourhood with several key transport nodes, skills, green space, amenities and shops all within a 10 minute walk of the site. ”

Objector Bianca Lopez, of Shawlands, Langside Living Rent, said policy from national planning guidance NPF4 requires new developments to make provision for affordable homes of at least 25 per cent.

She said “during a rent crisis and cost of living crisis a development that only proposes luxury flats will not improve access to housing across all tenures and will contribute to increasing sky high rents in Shawlands.”

She added: “To say yes to this today is saying that the people of Glasgow don’t have the same right to affordable housing” as other cities. Shawlands does not need luxury flats – it needs affordable housing.”

Councillors granted approval for phase one of the mixed use development in Pollokshields with three politicians voting against it at the planning applications committee today.

Calling for refusal of the bid, SNP councillor Fyeza Ikhlaq said: “I’d love to see the arcade regenerated but I can’t get over the parking issue or affordable housing. We are in a housing crisis and we should be meeting this demand.”

Proposing for it to be granted, seconded by Labour councillor Hanzala Malik, committee chair Ken Andrew, SNP, said we need to think about how we are consistent with the spirit of NPF4 and added how there are “issues.”

Councillor Andrew said car free developments are to be supported as vehicle ownership and transport is to be discouraged. He added Shawlands Arcade is “not a bonny building” and he was horrified when driving past.

Councillor Maureen Burke, Labour, proposed refusal seconded by councillor Ikhlaq.

The planning application was granted subject to conditions.