Category: Architecture (Page 1 of 3)

Arnold Clarke site planning application

The planning application for the second of the Arnold Clarke sites (134 Nithsdale Drive) has been submitted, and can be viewed at Glasgow City Council’s Planning Portal, using reference 23/01956/FUL.

Whatever your views, you can respond before the deadline of 22 September. At 104 flats, this is possibly the largest development in Strathbungo area since the 19th century, so please consider making your views (positive or negative) heard. You can find some useful guidance on responding to planning applications at Planning Law Blog.

It is worth noting that the site is not within the Conservation Area but is directly adjacent to it. The site is surrounded by Listed Buildings at Moray Place, Salisbury Crescent and Darnley Street (there is a map on the BungoBlog).

Editor’s note:

Thanks to Toby for submitting this.

Here’s an aerial view
Aerial view of Page park proposal at Nithsdale Drive

The architects state “Our design thinking seeks to ‘fill the gap’ complementing the scale and aspirations of surrounding buildings, with particular reference to the work of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, whose Category ‘A’ listed terrace, Moray Place faces onto the site.”

Note here’s what the plan looked like as originally proposed in March. While the block is similar, note how the detailing and the curved end features have been dropped and an extra flat stuck on each end instead.

View from Page Parks original proposal

Original proposal

Proposal for Nithsdale Drive as seen from the roundabout

Current proposal

nithsdale-drive-arnold-clark 2 nithsdale-drive-arnold-clark 1 nithsdale-drive-arnold-clark old

The Fate of the Footbridge

Network Rail have announced a new home for Strathbungo’s footbridge.

The bridge, recently removed into storage, will find a new home at the Caledonian Railway’s Brechin Station. The old cast iron columns that held up Strathbungo Station’s booking hall (later Susie’s) will also be re-used at Brechin.

Caledonian Railway is a railway preservation charity that runs trains from Brechin to Bridge of Dun in Angus. They previously re-used the footbridge from Dunblane station at Bridge of Dun.

The Arnold Clark development – Planning Application

Further to previous posts on this subject (in February and April), the planning application for this development is now live and you can read it on the Glasgow Council website: Glasgow City Council Planning Department.

Search using the application reference: 22/01468/FUL

The last date for comments is Tue 19 July (see “Important Dates” tab for the application).

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Update on the Arnold Clark development

Representatives from AS Homes and Southside Housing Association (SHA) were kind enough to attend the last Strathbungo Society committee meeting, and elaborate on their plans for the site at Pollokshaws Road and Nithsdale Drive.

Some points to note:

  • In response to concerns raised, the height at the corner has been dropped from eight storeys to seven, though possibly by extending the seven stories a little further along Pollokshaws Road (see sketches). At this end it will then drop to 5 storeys to match the roof line of the next building. On Nithsdale Drive it will drop to 4 storeys near the Mission Hall. They intend to provide “sunlight analysis” diagrams with their planning application, which may help decide if this sufficiently allays fears of neighbours, especially those on the other side of Nithsdale Drive. While they justify the height based on examples of other tall corner buildings in the neighbourhood, we did note that generally those buildings do not cast shadows over neighbouring residents.
  • There will be no on-site car parking, in line with Council expectations. SHA state that car uptake amongst their tenants on other developments is actually very low, even where parking has been provided. The parking (nose-in) on Nithsdale Drive will be retained, and they may provide electric charging points on some of these bays. Secure cycle storage wil open straight out onto Pollokshaws Road.
  • All services are contained within the footprint of the building (bin-stores etc.)
  • The building will be in a mostly red brick finish, to reflect the local red sandstone tenements.
  • They expect it to be a “gas free” development, and are looking at alternative heating options, and solar panels on the roof.
  • The planning application will be lodged with the council in about two weeks from now, and there will then be the usual statutory period if you wish to object or raise concerns. So watch the Council planning portal, and if we hear, we will link to it here.
  • SHA and AS Homes are not involved in the other Arnold Clark future development further along Nithsdale Drive (the old servicing depot).

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Proposed development on Arnold Clark site

The Arnold Clark showroom has been a prominent feature in Strathbungo for a century, sitting on the corner of Pollokshaws Road and Nithsdale Drive. It was built as The Queens Garage in the 1920s, and it has operated as a motor showroom ever since. Although the building looks a modern replacement, it is actually the original building with a new fascia.

However the showroom has now closed, and the land earmarked for housing. Today the first proposal for the site has been released by South Side Housing Association and Keppie Design, and they are looking for your comments. Note that while this is just an initial proposal, they hope to lodge their planning application in March or April.

You have a brief opportunity to discuss at this stage. Feel free to discuss on the Keppie Design web site, on here, on social media, or email chair@strathbungo.co.uk if you would rather the Society reflect your views anonymously.

The consultation dates are as follows:

  • 24th February 2022 – 17th March 2022 (21 days): Public consultation period, with website available throughout.
  • 3rd March 2022: A ‘live’ and interactive/two-way consultation event between 3pm – 6pm (3 hours), hosted as a ‘chat box’ function on the website.
  • 17th March 2022: Final date for submitting comments via contact details on the website.

Their sketch above is based off Google Streetview, so here is a more realistic rendition of what is to come, and what it replaces.

Artist’s rendition, superimposed on Google Streetview

The Queens Garage

The Arnold Clark showroom

Update

There’s a proposal gone in for the other part of Arnold Clarks on Nithsdale Drive today, beside the railway line. Not much detail:

What do you want Strathbungo to look like?

You might have noticed the consultation on the neighbouring Langside, Battlefield, Mount Florida, King’s Park & Toryglen Liveable Neighbourhoods. This year it is likely to be the turn of Strathbungo and Shawlands to be consulted in this way as the Glasgow City Council works its way across the city. This is a key opportunity to tell the council what the current problems are and what our hopes and dreams for the future of Strathbungo and the surrounding area are.

If we submit our best ideas, some of them might get funded and there is also the possibility that this consultation could lead to a Local Place Plan. This would give the agreed hopes and dreams of residents the full force of planning law and so bring them about through future developments.

While this consultation is still unconfirmed and months away, the time to get thinking is now. What do you want fixed? What do you want to change? What do you want to keep? How can we build an even better Strathbungo?

Langside Halls – view new proposals and have your say

Langside Halls Trust, working with funding Glasgow-based Hoskins Architects and culture & heritage consultants, Jura Consultants, have develop proposals for Langside Halls as an inclusive and sustainable venue for the Southside. Working with partners Glad Café, Southside Fringe, Southside Film Festival and others, the Trust want to create a regular cultural and social programme at the Halls, use them as a platform for Southside organisations and continue their traditional role as an affordable community-venue-for-hire.

Proposed improvements to the Halls would see them become fully accessible, with greater flexibility and more useful spaces as well as creating a new welcoming entrance space and new meeting spaces to accommodate all user groups – and to allow Langside Halls to fulfil its full potential as an important community and cultural hub.

Kevin Kane, Chair of Langside Halls Trust said:

The feasibility study proposals seek to breathe new life into Langside Halls and make them a fully accessible and attractive venue for communities across the South Side. The Trust wants to share the proposals with the wider community and to hear what folks and local organisations think of them – as well as what would make them use the Halls more.

The proposals can be viewed at the Langside Halls Trust’s website at where you will also find a community questionnaire where you can have you say on what is proposed. The community engagement runs until this Sunday, 28th February.

Langside Entrance Hall

Network Rail – Strathbungo Station demolition

(Latest Update on 19 July 2020: NR’s second response, background on electrification)

Only a couple of weeks ago we were concerned that Network Rail were restarting tree felling along the railway line, and sought assurances that they would abide by previous agreements. They replied to reasssure us that they would. There remains a certain lack of trust around what Network Rail say, and what they do, so perhaps this was a sign of progress.

Jump forward to this week and we discover that, without any consultation with anyone, Network Rail were to demolish the old Strathbungo Station booking hall (more recently Susie’s Shop) on 18-19 July.

Continue reading

Reclaim the Strathbungo Fountain

Yes, there was a Strathbungo Fountain. I’m sure it was Victorian, as made of metal and was substantially built. I don’t know the dimensions but would estimate (from memory) that it was approx. 10-12 ft high on a circular base of slightly larger dimensions.

It was situated on a roundabout opposite the old red telephone box nr. Sammy Dows and The New Anand Restaurant. I am sure it was still there about 20 years ago when I lived in Pollokshields. Did anyone see it being dismantled? Where did it finally end up? I have searched and searched (google uk) and cant find anything relating to it. I’m sure there must be someone, perhaps a Glasgow Council dept., who could throw some light on this. Again, a photo of it from someone would be an ideal start.

Douglas

Update:

I have summarised all that has come to light and moved it to the Bygone Bungo website. You can read more about the fountain there.

Further Update:
We finally have a photo of it!

Andrew Downie

Nithsdale Road 1951 Roundabout

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