‘Lego-Style’ Student Tower Approved for Trongate Lane Despite Conservation Concerns
£25million Flats to Regenerate ‘Squalid’ City Centre Old Wynd Rife with Crime
By Sarah Hilley, Local Democracy Reporter
A 13-storey block of studio flats for students is to be built on a "squalid" Glasgow lane that is rife with crime and anti-social behaviour.
The property, which will have 173 ensuite studios, will sit on a car park site at Old Wynd and Osborne Street in the city centre.
There are hopes it will boost safety in the lane with one councillor saying the accommodation couldn't make the situation any worse.
Councillors approved the building at a meeting today despite concerns its red bricks don't fit in with the conservation area. Another issue is the close proximity between it and another building.
Iceni Projects director Gary Mappin said the project will see a £25 million investment in the city centre and will create nearly 300 construction jobs as well as make the wynd safer.
He said: "This proposal represents a significant opportunity to regenerate a long vacant and underutilised brownfield site in the heart of the city centre.
“Vacant since the 1990s the site currently makes no positive contribution to the character and the appearance of the conservation area."
Merchant City and Trongate Community Council objected to the plan from applicant Dominus- blasting it as another "Lego-style structure."
They also raised concerns over the architectural scale and massing and the area having too many students.
Speaking at today's planning applications committee, Mr Naismith said the property being proposed has less than 11 metres between it and another building to the west.
He added: "It is a narrow alleyway there and our concern is that will become more like a canyon."
Voicing her dissent, Councillor Eva Bolander said: "The respect to the conservation area is falling short. Anything that has been built in a conservation area should be enhancing it."
She added: "As a wynd I wouldn't like to walk down it myself in the evening."
She also raised the issue of small rooms and 10 per cent of the accommodation not having enough daylight.
Councillor Cecilia O'Lone said: "I understand the issue to do with the lane and the narrowness around it. At the moment it is absolutely disgusting how it looks and how it is used. I don't see how this could make it any worse."
She claimed the development would make it more of a route and less "seedy" with windows overlooking.
A council paper presented to the committee said the Old Wynd is the site of anti-social behaviour.
It said: “At the moment, the Wynd lacks activity and supervision and has therefore become a focus for anti-social and criminal behaviour. Along with the consented purpose built student accommodation proposal to the west, the proposed new building will help resolve these issues by increasing footfall, providing both active and passive supervision from ground and upper floors and improving levels of lighting."
Councillor Ken Andrew said: “I think this is probably a squalid lane at the moment. We need to do something to activate it. I think within the urban context the window to window distances are less than we would hope for.”
Describing efforts to improve privacy for residents as positive, he said the development would improve the condition and environment of the lane.
The committee approved the proposal subject to conditions.