PLANS to convert a former Department of Work and Pensions Job Centre building in Bridgeton into 49 new homes have been given the go ahead by Glasgow City Council.
Spectrum Properties first submitted plans last year to turn the property, which was closed by the UK Government in 2018, into 39 one-bedroom and ten two-bedroom flats, but they were rejected.
The firm argued that the plans would provide a ‘sustainable re-use of a redundant’ building as there is ‘little likelihood of the building being returned to a commercial use due to lack of demand’ and that ‘the proposals require minimal structural intervention (to) provide 49 residential apartments in an area with little other alternative than housing associations with long waiting lists’.
It continued ‘to the rear of the site it is proposed to reduce the extent of the car park to provide residential amenity, with planting to encourage biodiversity, as well as a reconfigured car park to accommodate disabled parking spaces’.
Spectrum Properties MD Bill Roddie said, “We are delighted that the planners have had a change of heart and that we now have the green light to undertake the work on these good quality private rental apartments that are in great demand in the local area.
“With only some very minor amendments, our original planning proposal stands, and we anticipate the new apartments will be ready for occupation by local people by late summer 2022.”
