Housing plan for former Glasgow school site in Crookston approved

A former school site in Crookston can be used for more than 50 homes after the plan received the green light from councillors.

Glasgow’s planning committee has approved Robertson Living’s application to build 57 homes for private sale on Crookston Road, where Howford School used to be.

Robertson Living will need to agree to pay £104,541 as the proposed development has a shortfall in the required amount of children’s play space and does not include allotments or outdoor sport areas.

A council report said the money would be “directed towards a qualitative improvement in local provision”.

Bailie James Scanlon, Labour, said it was an “excellent proposal” but he would have preferred social rented housing to be included.

Bailie Thomas Kerr, Conservative, said: “I think this is a fantastic application. It’s family homes which is a plus to start with, this ticks the boxes of delivering houses but also maintaining as much woodland and nice, open green areas as well.

“These do look like really nice family homes and I would be happy to support them.”

Documents submitted by the developer stated the plan would “bring new life to this brownfield site within the existing urban area of Crookston”.

“New homes will be set within an attractive and mature landscape framework, creating a place with identity and character,” they added.

“The retained woodland and footpath provide an attractive route and easily accessible active travel route, connecting to the wider National Cycle Routes and core path networks in the surrounding area.”

Nine people objected to the application, raising concerns over school and nursery places and additional traffic congestion. They also argued that social housing should be provided rather than private.

Council planners reported the city’s education department monitors “development activity and allocates resources accordingly”.

They added calls for social housing were “beyond the remit” of the planning department as the application “can only be assessed on its merits”.

The development will include seven two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom and 21 four-bedroom houses.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency had initially objected on “flood risk grounds”, but withdrew it after additional information “confirmed that no development would encroach on the functional floodplain of the White Cart”.