Victoria Infirmary: Plan to demolish historic Glasgow Southside hospital gatehouse sparks locals fury

The 19th-century gatehouse at the Victoria Infirmary in Battlefield could be demolished by developers after it fell into disrepair. But the plans have sparked outrage from locals who want to see the building restored.

Sanctuary Housing expects to build more than 400 houses, plus commercial units and social housing, on the site of the former hospital in the Southside, having acquired the land in 2016. However, those plans would see the demolition of the gatehouse.

A spokesperson for Sanctuary Housing told the Glasgow Times: “We are fully committed to respecting the heritage of the former Victoria Infirmary site; however, a detailed structural assessment confirmed that the gatehouse is beyond viable repair and presents a significant health and safety risk.”

Posting on X, Niall Murphy, director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, said he was “concerned” to see the condition of the 19th-century building - highlighting holes in the stonework, pointing to a suspected collapsed beam.

He continued: “The gatehouse is meant to mark both the pedestrian and vehicular entrances from Langside Road into ‘The Victoria’ residential development in Glasgow’s Southside. It would be a shame to lose it when it could be brought back into use as a home or an office or a wee cafe for folks in Queen’s Park to get an ice cream.”

Mr Murphy said that the building’s lack of listing or existing within a conservation area means that is has no statutory protection and, should an amendment to the Collective Architechture masterplan be allowed - it could face demolition.

However, Mr Murphy said that he hopes that Glasgow City Council policies to seek the retention of stone buildings and locals unhappiness over similar buildings, could see the building saved.

He said: “Nevertheless, given the unhappiness expressed locally after the demolition of one of the Nightingale wards, I hope we don’t see the same thing happening here…”

The Nightingale ward block was also demolished by Sanctuary Housing in 2022.