The old Knightswood garage, off Great Western Road, Anniesland, opened in 1932 and closed in 2004.

It will now be flattened and two three-storey blocks of flats and 16 townhouses will be built, adding to homes already on the site.

Developer Redrow Homes originally planned to incorporate the brick facade of the Greenlea Street and Munro Place depot into more flats. This was a condition of the original planning application approved by the city council.

However, the company has now been granted permission to demolish it as part of a revised plan, even though it is listed as one of only two buildings of its type in the city.

Anniesland councillor Jonathan Findlay supported the demolition and said residents would be happy to see it go. They claimed the building attracted vermin, was dangerous and a focus for anti-social behaviour.

Mr Findlay said: “It has been derelict for years and is a blight on the community.

“It is very unlikely a developer will do anything with it unless it is demolished. It is not ideal but the proposal offers

a solution and I am happy to support it.”

One nearby resident said: “It needs to be demolished. The whole outlook of the area will be transformed.”

Six objections were made to the plan, including loss of privacy, the excessive scale of the development in relation to nearby homes, and loss of the historic wall. There were nine letters of support.

As the planning decision affects a listed building, the matter will now be passed to Historic Scotland.

Michael Bury, technical director for Redrow Homes (Scotland) said: “Redrow is committed to preserving historical features wherever possible.

“But the poor condition of the foundations meant it would be difficult and dangerous to support the brick facade while the rest of the site was built out.”

Sarah Swain