GLASGOW planning bosses have refused an application to develop new flats along the Forth and Clyde Canal despite recommendations by council officers to approve it.

Members of the Glasgow City Council planning committee denied permission for the 182 apartments on the abandoned land between Farnell Street and Sawmillfield Street by 11 votes to four yesterday morning.

Hoxton Securities (Glasgow) had submitted a planning application to create a build-to-rent development for 182 flats over 20 storeys with one commercial unit facing Farnell Street.

But councillors did not believe this was the right development for the site.

READ MORE: Councillors expected to approve plans for flats along Canal

Councillor Alan Casey said: “This rings alarm bells in terms of a massive over development of this site given that the density is so high and the lack of open space that has been identified.

“It just seems over proportionate to what we would approve at committee and I have significant concerns about that.

“This site is clearly sitting within a commercial and industrial estate. I wonder just how that fits into the city development plan (CDP). What is it to be used for? Are going against the CDP for this site if we were to approve this?

“I’m not sure you will be able to convince me this is the right development.”

A council officer confirmed that it did not conflict with the CDP and that a 2008 masterplan which was created by the local authority seeks to regenerate the area with a residential aspect.

Glasgow Times:

Councillor Josephine Docherty added: “On the screen this development looks wonderful and acceptable. But in my heart I feel we are rebuilding something Glasgow rejected decades ago.

“The high density worries me, and I think it it’s going to be a concrete jungle – it’s the sort of thing we got rid of in the old days in the Glasgow Gorbals.”

Following the debate councillors most members refused the planning application. The applicant can now appeal this decision if they believe the council to have made a mistake.