A SOUTH Side car showroom is set to be demolished and replaced with a 72-bed care home despite opposition from a local councillor.

Planning officers have recommended Northcare’s proposal to build on the site of the Harry Fairbairn Mini showroom on Kilmarnock Road should be approved.

The scheme would include a cinema room, café, hair salon and cocktail bar for the residents.

Baillie Josephine Docherty has objected to the plans, claiming a 72-bed home is too large and is not appropriate near to the Newlands Conservation Area.

“It is a few metres within the Glasgow City boundary on Kilmarnock Road,” she said.

“This is the first sight people coming to the city will get. It does not fit in with the surrounding area in its shape, colour or surfacing.”

Baillie Docherty added: “There are already congestion problems in the road around the site and this will certainly spread into the heart of the conservation area.”

There have been 10 more objections to the proposal from members of the public.

Concerns include inadequate parking, noise nuisance from a proposed bandstand, an “over-dominant” development and a lack of community consultation.

But a council planning report states the proposed development is considered appropriate and “reflects the three and four storey developments found at key junctions along Kilmarnock Road and Fenwick Road”.

It adds, in areas of high accessibility, the minimum standard for parking is one space per 16 residents, meaning a 72-bed care home should have five spaces. The applicant has proposed 12.

There would also be six cycle parking spaces for staff and a drop off zone for cars.

A condition would be attached to the planning permission to “ensure no audible music” is played from the bandstand during “unsociable hours”.

The proposal is “fully complaint with Care Inspectorate standards for care homes in terms of operational design”.

As well as the café, cinema room and cocktail bar, there would be a private dining room, foyer and terrace.

A report, submitted on behalf of the developer, stated the “destination space” offers residents the opportunity of a day out without the need to leave the home. Visitors could also use these areas.

“There is also a potential to open up these spaces, particularly the café to wider public use, integrating the care home into the community.”

It adds: “The proposed development will provide much-needed accommodation for the ever-increasing elderly population, allowing them to live their lives with dignity and independence with specialist assistance at hand.”

Councillors will decide whether to approve the plans at a meeting on Tuesday.