Hundreds of campaigners reacted angrily to a controversial blueprint which would see dozens of flats built in a Glasgow lane.
Within days of developer Hugh Scott submitting his masterplan for 142 flats at Otago Lane in the West End, hundreds of objections were lodged with the city council.
Protesters have blocked one plan and hope to do so again through the weight of opposition. Campaigners include leading politicians, as well as residents and businesses which expect they’ll be hit hard if the multi-million pound development gets the green light.
Despite failing to win the Glasgow North constituency for the LibDems at the General Election, Katy Gordon has promised to help lead the opposition.
Before going on holiday yesterday, she and other protesters lodged more than 700 written objections with senior planning officials.
Ms Gordon said: “I gave a guarantee that every objection sent to me would be placed in an individual envelop and lodged by me with the city council.
“I am totally opposed to this development like so many others.
“If this development goes ahead then the character of Otago Lane will be completely destroyed. Its uniqueness helps make the West End and should be preserved.”
The opposition campaign has triggered cross-party support from politicians including Labour MSP Pauline McNeill and SNP MSP Sandy White.
The lane is made up of a handful of flats and businesses, including the Tchai-Ovna Tea House.
Owner Martin Fell, another major influence in the Save Otago Lane Campaign, said: “The response so far has been phenomenal.
“But we need more people to lodge objections. So far 5000 people have signed our protest petition while another 7000 are following our campaign ion Facebook.
“I would appeal to all our supporters to lodge objections and to do so urgently. All the details they need can be found on our website – www.saveotagolane.co.uk”
The 31-year-old businessman added: “I’m very optimistic that we can win this fight.”
LibDem MSP Robert Brown said he believed most locals were against the plan, saying: “I believe the proposed development goes against the council’s own city plans.”
Mr Scott was forced to return to the drawing board last September when protesters discovered he had failed to register the name of the company fronting his plan. Campaigners pinched the name Otago Street Ltd and lodged it with Companies House for just £30.
It meant council chiefs had no alternative but to throw out his plan. By the time it was resubmitted new legislation meant Mr Scott had to consult the community further.
His revised plan of 142 flats in five blocks was submitted seven days ago by Otago Street Developments Ltd which claims the new housing will help boost local trade.
A council spokesman said: “The application will be considered in due course.”
Developers make case for plan
Developer Hugh Scott and his team believe their residential masterplan of studios and one and three-bedroom flats will benefit the area.
In a statement, Otago Street Developments said: “This will improve the housing mix within the area and to some extent may enable some residents to ‘trade up’ without moving away, leading to a more settled community.
“The residential element of the scheme will be complemented by seven commercial units devoted to ‘neighbourhood shopping’ and, therefore, serving the needs of local residents.
“A vast improvement will be made to the area aesthetically by refurbishing several existing blocks to a high standard, while filling unappealing gap sites with quality new-build property.
“In terms of size and scale, this development is smaller than a previous scheme for which planning permission was granted in 1988, and which is still live.”
Key advantages are listed, such as:
- Regeneration of an under-developed part of the West End
- New homes adding to the local housing mix
- Attractive design of new build properties on a scale sensitive to the local conservation area status
- Physical improvements to the banks of the River Kelvin and widening of lane for safer access.
The statement adds: “We are confident this latest development will enhance the immediate locality and contribute to the regeneration of the wider West End.
“We believe the latest proposals are for a much enhanced scheme providing a natural river edge and a wider range of accommodation that will make a more sustainable contribution to the community.”
