Langside residents oppose plans to demolish Bon Secours Convent on Glasgow's Mansionhouse Road

A planning application had been submitted in February by Surplus Property Investments Ltd for the erection of 16 flats at 32 Mansionhouse Road.

As the deadline for objections nears, residents in the area have raised concerns about the development, which will see the demolition of the former Bon Secours Convent, a 2-storey traditional sandstone villa.

The traditional sandstone villa at 32 Mansionhouse Road, Langside, Glasgow, formerly known as the former Bon Secours Convent, after the religious order of the same name.

According to The Celtic Wiki, this would be where manager Willie Maley died in 1958, after the convent had been repurposed as a nursing home.

Celtic's first manager Willie Maley is thought to have died at the Bon Secours Convent in 1958. At the time, it operated as a nursing home.

The proposed development would include 14 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom apartments on five floors, with private balconies, a ground floor garden, and cycle and car parking.

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It comes after another bid to demolish the building to make way for 20 flats was rejected in 2020 for reasons including the loss of a traditional sandstone building without “reasoned justification”.

In a supporting statement, the developer said the project would make a “positive contribution” to the area, “delivering high quality homes in an accessible location, optimising the use of a brownfield site and improving the built environment”.

What the proposed residential development would look like at 32 Mansionhouse Road, Glasgow. Image: HAUS Collective Ltd (HAUS)

It added that the existing villa carries “no listing and is not considered to be of architectural merit or importance” and would be “unviable” for retention and conversion.

Resident Alison Kerr, who has lived in the street for 25 years, said: “I think a lot of us are quite shocked that anybody would think of pulling it down.

“It’s not the most stunning piece of architecture in the area, but it's of the period when a lot of the buildings around here were built and one of the last mansion houses in the street.

“It’s a waste and it’s sad, I feel that the historic and traditional feel of the street is being eroded.”

The Bon Secours Convent sits next to the former site of the Bon Secours Hospital, on St Helen’s Gardens, now occupied by blocks of flats.

Nearby is Alexander “Greek” Thomson’s double villa, an A-listed building designed by the famous Scottish architect in 1856.

Further down the road, an 1862 Scottish Baronial villa which was previously a Carmelite convent was converted into 13 flats, which have been occupied since the end of 2011.

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Residents would like to see a similar fate for the Bon Secours.

Objections published on Glasgow City Council’s planning portal also mentioned the loss of historic value, along with privacy, overshadowing of neighbouring homes, parking and traffic issues.

One resident wrote: “The proposed works would cause significant disruption to the area, as well as altering the heritage of the existing site.

A second commented: “Mansionhouse Road still has buildings of historical interest and great character, it would be awful to lose this one.”

A third objection reads: “There is absolutely no need to demolish this beautiful blonde sandstone villa.”

Image: HAUS Collective Ltd (HAUS)

A spokesperson for planning consultants Iceni Projects said: “Our clients have consulted with the local community and are fully aware of the issues that arose during consideration of the previous proposals (by a different developer) for the site.

“These have all been addressed in the new proposals which are for fewer units, to be delivered in a high-quality design, and meeting current stringent standards for environmental performance.

“It would not be viable to retain and refurbish the existing building (and meet modern standards for environmental performance) given its physical condition, and end value.”

The firm added the issue of privacy and parking have been fully addressed, confirming that “minimum distances to neighbouring properties will be achieved, or suitable screening measures installed”, while “110+% car parking will be provided, along with 125% cycle parking”.

The last day to provide comments on the development is Monday, March 28.