CONTROVERSIAL plans to redevelop a former university building into flats have been put on hold.

Housebuilder CALA Homes is proposing to transform the historic site of Strathclyde University’s former Jordanhill Campus into luxury flats.

Members of Glasgow City Council’s planning applications committee were expected to give the scheme the go-ahead at a meeting on Tuesday but instead unanimously agreed that a hearing must take place before a decision is reached on the proposal.

The hearing will allow representations from interested parties to be heard before any decision is made.

A judicial review is also to take place at the Court of Session next month.

A total of 486 letters of representation, almost all objections, were received in relation to the application.

Councillor Feargal Dalton, Carol Monaghan MP, Councillor Kenny McLean, Broomhill Parent Council, Whiteinch Community Council, Jordanhill Community Council, Jordanhill School and Glasgow West End Woodcraft Folk all voiced their concerns regarding the development.

Complaints were lodged relating to the potential loss of green space and the impact on wildlife and biodiversity, due to more than 70 trees being cut down on the land.

It was noted that local roads would be unable to cope with the increased volume of traffic while schools and other services are already stretched.

Community leaders in Jordanhill welcomed Glasgow City Council’s decision to delay the decision.

Ken Robertson, a spokesman for Jordanhill Community Council, said: “Jordanhill Community Council wishes to thank the Planning Applications Committee for their deliberations today.

“We are encouraged by the outcome

“Now we will be able to present our case directly to the decision-makers and stress that local people must be involved in shaping their own future.

“Glasgow’s new administration has said it is committed to community participation and so are we.

“Today is only a first step but we and our partners remain focused on taking this to Judicial Review in the hope that one day we might get a development at Jordanhill Campus of which all can be proud.”

A date has yet to be fixed for the pre-determination hearing while the Judicial Review is scheduled for November 16 and 17.

A spokesperson for CALA Homes (West) said: “We are disappointed that our planning application for a premium residential development at Jordanhill Campus has been continued to a hearing. We’ve invested a great deal of time, expense and effort into our proposals and designs which have received a positive recommendation from the council’s planners.

“We remain confident our plans will deliver much needed, high-quality homes that are sympathetic to the site’s important landscape and heritage features with more than 40 per cent of the proposed development retained as green space. Redevelopment of this derelict site will also create almost 200 new jobs for the city.

“We look forward to making our case at the hearing.”

A spokesman for the University of Strathclyde said: “Since deciding to move the Faculty of Education to our city centre campus more than 10 years ago, we have consulted extensively with the local community and Glasgow City Council over the future of the Jordanhill site.

“We believe the proposals respect the site’s history, surroundings and green space, and represent an opportunity to create an asset for Jordanhill and the wider city.”