PLANS to bring more shops close to a new housing complex are being introduced by the council. 

Residents living at the Athletes’ Village site in Dalmarnock have previously complained about a lack of amenities in the area.

Scottish Conservative councillor Thomas Kerr raised the issue during the council’s Executive Committee meeting yesterday.

He said: “I think it’s good the regeneration has happened in the area however my question si around amenities and people asking for a shop.

“They have asked for something just small and simple and that’s a local shop in the area.  “All these new homes are great, but the local services aren’t there for them.”

Councillor Kerr added that the case for local shops is even stronger now a new school has been approved for Dalmarnock, bringing potentially more families to the area.  His question came during a discussion about Glasgow City Council buying the land at Dalmarnock substation, to form part of the next phase of development at the Athletes’ Village. 

Richard Brown, executive  director of development and regeneration services at the council, said there were plans in place to bring more amenities to Dalmarnock, including “a range of shops”.

He also revealed that a previous attempt had been unsuccessful. 

Mr Brown told the committee: “My last convener, Councillor [George] Redmond, was the councillor in the area and was pushing for a shop to open.  “We marketed land quite close to the petrol station and from that we didn’t get much success. 

“However we have approached it from a dfferent angle with council property firm City Property and those negotiations are ongoing. 

“Hopefully, in the not too  distant future, I will be able to bring a different property report back  which will  be for the disposal of land in order to create not just one shop, but a range of shops.” 

The committee yesterday approved plans to acquire the land at the substation, from SP Transmission Plc and SP Distribution Plc.  An agreement has been made in principal to buy the land for £203,500, with the cash coming from previous budgets.