Plans to expand the Tartan Lodge hostel in Glasgow have been withdrawn after neighbours raised fears about a potential rise in anti-social behaviour. Owners of the hostel on Alexandra Parade in the city's Dennistoun area had hoped to double the number of rooms there.
The hostel describes itself as a “boutique” option for budget travellers, but objectors said it is used as temporary homeless accommodation and claimed police have been called there more than 250 times in two years to deal with issues including “shouting” and people drinking in public. Glasgow City Council has now updated its online planning portal, external to say the application has been withdrawn.
The proposal would have created 16 more rooms. Politicians said they did not oppose the principle of providing temporary accommodation to vulnerable homeless people, but argued the specific site — a converted Victorian church and Masonic lodge — was unsuitable.
What concerns were raised about the hostel?
Objectors said the existing use of the hostel had already caused disruption for nearby residents and that an expansion would make those problems worse. The Glasgow list MSP Paul Sweeney said the hostel has “generated an unacceptable level of distress for neighbouring residents”, with police called out 258 times in two years.
“generated an unacceptable level of distress for neighbouring residents”
“Residents regularly endure shouting, disorder, aggressive behaviour, public drinking, suspected drug-related activity, and constant loitering at all hours.
The sheer volume of police interventions and the daily disruption faced by families and elderly residents conclusively prove that this site is currently neither safe nor pleasant.”
The Labour MSP also raised concerns about the proposed use of brick, rather than red sandstone, which would match the original building.
Why did local representatives object to the design?
Local representatives said the design and setting of the extension were not suitable for the historic building. Councillor Allan Casey, the city convener for homelessness, said residents had told him the new proposal could increase already existing concerns.
Dennistoun Community Council said the extension to Tartan Lodge was “inappropriate in terms of scale, design, appearance and impact on the architectural and historical character of the existing building”.
“inappropriate in terms of scale, design, appearance and impact on the architectural and historical character of the existing building”
What was the original proposal?
The applicants, Galsey Enterprises, had sought to build a multi-storey extension to the existing hostel. The plan originally submitted on behalf of the firm stated the proposal “represents a logical and sustainable development on an existing urban site”.
“represents a logical and sustainable development on an existing urban site”
Story by Local Democracy Reporting Service reporter Drew Sandelands.
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