PLANS to develop part of the Victoria Infirmary have been passed - despite strong objections from local residents.

Following a visit to the site of the former Mansionhouse Unit and a heated committee meeting, councillors voted nine to eight to back plans for luxury flats.

Now the building, a satellite to the now-closed Victoria Infirmary, will be razed to make way for 101 new properties.

Evelyn Silber, chairwoman of Langside, Battlefield and Camphill Community Council (LBCCC), said: "Our complaint was always that this proposal over-developed the site - it was too high and too dense, creating an urban wall of buildings.

"I know a lot of residents will be profoundly disappointed as our objections were not frivolous.

"We had two local councillors speaking on our behalf and yet the proposals seem to have just gone through.

"They seemed to be wedded to the idea of having these buildings rights on the edge of the site, which is not in keeping with the area at all.

"That this wasn't changed is profoundly disappointing."

A planning applications committee in March failed to reach an agreement on the plans, from housebuilder CALA Homes (West).

They took the unusual step of postponing a decision until a site visit could be arranged, which took place yesterday morning.

Members of the committee toured the Mansionhouse Road site, walking around the plot of land and along Millbrae Avenue, before returning to the City Chambers.

Archie Graham, who represents the Langside ward, was one of those who spoke to say the plans for the development could be improved, and said: "We can do better than this."

Ms Silber and local resident and architect Alistair King also spoke to highlight objections to the blocks of flats, which include overdevelopment, lack of amenities for children and families, scale and height and traffic congestion.

CALA Homes will build three blocks of flats, ranging from four to five storeys and containing one, two and three bed apartments and penthouses.

The local community council had petitioned against the planning application, asking CALA Homes to reduce the number of flats and keep the height of the blocks to below four storeys.

Ms Silber added: "I was encouraged that so many of the planning committee had taken the site visit seriously and they seemed to take on board several of our points - such as the density and lack of leisure provision.

"But when it came down to it there seemed very little appetite to make any meaningful changes to the proposals."

As the development does not meet certain policy requirements, CALA Homes will have to pay Glasgow City Council £184,820.

The money will be paid by the developer to the council because the development fails to include sufficient levels of children's play spaces, areas for sport, and allotment space.

Councillors voted eight for the plans and eight against with the chairman having the deciding vote.

A spokesperson for CALA Homes (West) said: “We are pleased that Glasgow City Council’s planning committee has voted to back our plans for luxury apartments at the Mansionhouse site.

“We have continued to work closely with all key stakeholders involved to deliver a positive outcome.

“We now plan to proceed with a high quality development of 101 one, two, and three bedroom apartments to replace the Mansionhouse unit of the former Victoria Infirmary Hospital.

“CALA Homes believes this will be a standout project in Glasgow’s South Side, providing an attractive place to live that will benefit from the area’s numerous amenities.”

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “The Planning Applications Committee today approved the application to develop the former hospital site on Mansionhouse Road.”