PLANS to transform the Merchant City and boost the population with a multi-million development will be welcomed by the community - but only if they have a say in it.

 

As the Evening Times reported yesterday, dozens of residents gathered in the City Chambers to discuss the £110million proposal to build at the site formerly earmarked by Selfridges.

After the Merchant City and Trongate Community Council meeting, locals voted to back the ambitious project on the condition that their issues are addressed and there is strong communication between all parties.

There have concerns over the impact of construction work, the height of a 17-storey high building, the amount of student flats and car parking among other things.

Developers London-based Mace and Mercer Real Estates Partners want to construct a new hotel, shops, restaurants, bistros, homes and a public square.

The scheme will include 135 flats for sale, 377 flats for rent, a 124-room boutique hotel facing a new public square and a 597-bed student block.

Community Council chairman Tam Coyle praised the community for speaking out.

He said: "We were very pleased with the turnout - we had to turn people away who turned up late because it was so busy.

"It just shows how active the community is where we live and how people want to get their point across."

Mr Coyle, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said local people did want to see the area, which has lain derelict for around 13 years, developed but they needed to have their concerns addressed.

He said: "As long as we have our input we're happy to back it.

"Obviously there's going to be an issue with parking. If you have 1400 people coming in, bringing the population up to about 5000, and there's only 50 car parking spaces there are going to be problems.

"We also need more detailed plans to discuss the height. If a building's going to be 17 storeys high, will that dwarf other buildings? It will drastically change the skyline.

"We need to know when is it going to stop? Will the next thing be Merchant City buildings reaching 20 storeys or 30 storeys?"

Mr Coyle said the number of student flats was also a concern.

However, he said the boost in population for the Merchant City was positive and it could lead to the area finally getting it's own doctor's surgery.

He said: "If we get around 5000 people living here we'll push for a GP."

Mike Myles, development director for Mace, who was at the meeting, said he wanted to work with local people.

Developers hope the planning application will be heard at committee by the summer.

They want to start demolishingcurrent buildings by Christmas, with a view to starting construction early next year.