A developer has sparked anger after revealing plans to demolish flats at the top of a lane in Glasgow’s West End.
Hugh Scott, of Otago Street Developments, wants to flatten a four-storey residential block in Otago Street, Hillhead, to create a five-storey residential and commercial development in its place.
But local people say the plan for 142 flats would destroy the West End’s conservation areas, independent shops and mews buildings.
The application to demolish 77 Otago Street was lodged with Glasgow planning bosses just as the deadline ended for objecting to an earlier proposal from the same company.
Local people are fiercely against the plans and hundreds of campaigners have added their names to letters of objection.
A spokesman for Otago Lane Community Association, said: “There are two outstanding applications and the deadline for objections for one ran out yesterday and the other at the end of June.
“We had queues of people wanting to sign letters of objection. Around 400 signed.”
Opponents insist it will irrevocably change the look and feel of the bohemian community because the, “towering development” would be visible from, Gibson Street and Great Western Road.
They also claim the future of the independent retailers Voltaire and Rousseau, Mixed up Records, Ken Chapelle clock repair and Tchai Ovna tea rooms will be put at risk by the plans.
Mr Scott was forced to return to the drawing board last September when protesters discovered he had failed to register the name of his company.
Campaigners then lodged the name Otago Street Ltd with Companies House.
It meant council planning bosses had no alternative but to reject that plan, which was to build two blocks of more than 150 flats as well as commercial units. One proposed block was to be nine-storeys high.
New legislation also forced Mr Scott to consult the community further and he has re-submitted the original application, as well as the new one.
These are expected to come before planners after the council’s summer recess.
A spokesman for Otago Street Developments, said: “The proposed demolition is to enable the widening of the lane. The whole development is in a conservation area and requires conservation area consent.”
However, Glasgow Kelvin MSP Pauline McNeill, said there is no local benefit from the original proposal and wants the plans thrown out.
She said: “It is not in the interests of people who live in or near Otago Lane or Otago Street.
“When is the planning committee going to consider the interest of people who live in the West End over developers who are adding little to the local economy?
“I sat through the consultation and presentation and saw no evidence of local benefit.”
