Jordanhill Campus: New legal challenge considered as housing site gets go-ahead after residents meeting lockout

Councillors voted 12-2 in favour of the 31-acre development which housebuilder CALA Homes say would attract over 1,000 residents and annually would raise an extra £1.3m in council tax for the city.

The council's planners made the decision while dozens of residents were locked out the meeting due to lack of room.

Jordanhill Community Council is now considering a fresh legal challenge.

More than 100 concerned Jordanhill residents had attended Glasgow’s City Chambers for the crunch meeting but protesters say only 14 were given access to the event as council officials said they did not have a big enough room to accommodate the crowd.

Addressing the angry residents in the foyer of the building, Glenn Elder, chairman of the planning applications committee, rejected suggestions the meeting should be postponed until a bigger venue could be found.

He said: “I am terribly sorry that we just don’t have a big enough room available and I have sympathy for those who can’t get in.

“Believe me, this application has consumed my life – day and night – for the last six weeks. There has been so much interest from various parties that I’m sure we could have half-filled the SECC.

“The meeting has to go ahead today but please trust me that the matter will be dealt with fairly and in an even-handed manner.”

However, Jordanhill resident Andrew Robertson declared: “It’s ridiculous to suggest there isn’t a big enough venue to accommodate the people who came here today.

“If they knew there was going to be such a big turnout why didn’t they plan accordingly and hire somewhere bigger.

“Some people have probably taken time off work to be here so I feel very sorry for them.”

And another member of the public Gordon Wilson added: “This shows a total disregard for the people of this city who pay their council taxes and who want to see democracy in action.

“For only fourteen people to be allowed in is a joke – the City Council should be ashamed of themselves.”

A Glasgow City Council source said the meeting was held in the committee room with the "largest amount of public space of any such room in the City Chambers".

Almost 900 objections were lodged with the council with residents demanding the development should be scaled down as well as offering a lasting legacy to the community.

The proposed development by housebuilder CALA Homes would see the landmark B-listed David Stow building in Glasgow's west-end converted into flats while scores of protected trees on the would be destroyed if the proposal is given the green light, say the protesters.

Set within the grounds of what was formerly the country estate of one of Glasgow’s 18th century Tobacco Lords, the David Stow Building has been a landmark on the skyline of the Jordanhill area for the past 100 years.

The building was vacated in 2012, when its owners, the University of Strathclyde, moved to consolidate their campus in the city centre and was subsquently sold.

There is still hope that Jordanhill residents can topple the decision having  raised a judicial review petition over Glasgow City Council’s handling of the application.  

Jordanhill Community Council said they were "extremely disappointed" and were considering a fresh legal challenge over the decision.

The council said the decision was taken without the benefit of "visiting and understanding" the site.

“We will continue to seek justice and look forward to the outcome of our judicial review petition," said the council.

“We would consider it a breach of natural justice if any work was to commence on the campus site prior to a court verdict."

The council also accused the University of Strathclyde of acting "in self-interest throughout the whole process" and said it had asked thelocal MSP to "raise the matter of capital receipts" with the education minister John Swinney.

“Meanwhile we are considering our options which may include the raising of a further judicial review in response to granting of consents".

The case is understood to have been heard at the Court of Session on November 16 and 17 and judge Lady Wolffe will deliver a written verdict later.

Responding to the committee decision, Jim McIntyre, managing director, CALA Homes (West), said:“We’re pleased that the planning committee has approved our proposals.

"We’re confident that our plans will deliver a fantastic new residential development that will meet the demand for high quality housing in Glasgow, create valuable new jobs and build on the legacy of Jordanhill Campus."