THE development of land in Glasgow’s West End will not be approved by the council if it results in the loss of scout hall, city planners have said.

Mactaggart and Mickel wants to build houses on land in Kelvindale on Ripon Drive that has housed the base of the 44th Scout Group for more than 50 years.

The company, which owns the land, has been advised that a new application for a residential development could not be supported because it involves the loss of a well-used community facility and would be contrary to the City Development Plan.

The firm was given planning permission in 2009 residential development years ago on the condition that the proposals included a replacement scout hut.

However, the plans did not come to fruition and the company has submitted a fresh application which does not, at this stage, include the provision of a replacement hall.

The company has pledged to work with the scout group and plans to demolish the building have been suspended.

Kenny McClean. SNP councillor for Partick East and Kelvindale, said: “It was a different city plan at that time (when the first application was approved.)

“The new one has just come into force. But even that consent still included a replacement scout hall.

“The fear amongst local residents was that the new application had no provision for any scout hall.”

The hall is also used by the community as a nursery, karate club and venue for social events.

A spokeswoman for Mactaggart “The site benefited from a planning approval, which is currently in the process of being renewed, for a residential development which also included the provision of a new scout hall.

“As previously stated we are willing to work with the 44th Scout Group to consider all options for this facility and plan to meet with them in the coming weeks to progress this.”

Two separate motions have been raised in support of the scouts’ campaign at Holyrood and the UK government signed by politicians including Bob Doris, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, James Dornan, Patrick Grady and Carol Monaghan.

The first scout hall was built in the land in the1950s and replaced by the Scout Association in 1994.

The Glasgow group took over the building in 2003 when it was vacant and in a state of disrepair and upgraded the building to Care Commission standards..