CRAIG Cummine's letter (April 14) will strike a chord with readers in Jordanhill who may share his opinion that not all planning proposals enjoy the high profile as that which resulted in the rejection of plans for a student flat development adjacent to Glasgow School of Art (“Relief as planners throw out art school plans”, The Herald, April 5).
I refer to a current application by CALA Homes (West) to build 412 new homes on the University of Strathclyde's former Jordanhill Campus.
The deadline for objections to this proposal is fast-approaching Friday, (April 21) and will be the latest stage in a saga stretching back more than a decade since the University of Strathclyde took the regrettable decision to move to a city-centre site.
When exiting Jordanhill, the university issued a statement vowing that it "recognises that the campus is an integral part of Jordanhill, and an important space for the community. We are committed to working with the community, Jordanhill School, the city council and other partners to secure a long-term sustainable future for the site."
Rather than remaining true to that commitment the University of Strathclyde pressed ahead with its sale of the land to CALA Homes (West) while, the city council, having initially granted planning permission in principle subject to conditions for the building of 348-364 homes, four years later granted permission in principle to a plan which had mysteriously grown in scale to the 412 homes now proposed.
This over-development of an historic site offers no community benefit and the University of Strathclyde, CALA Homes (West) and the council have all refused to discuss a well-constructed and eminently sensible Community Value Proposition prepared by Jordanhill Community Council.
The many residents in Jordanhill who have objected or intend to object can only hope that their opinions are given due consideration and give rise to a sizeable reduction in a proposal which threatens to have a drastic effect on the local infrastructure as well as having a seriously detrimental effect on the Campus which, ironically, the City Council designates as a Site of Special Landscape Importance.
Meanwhile candidates for the forthcoming elections would be well-advised to recognise community value in relation to the Jordanhill Campus as a potential vote-winner for, as Mr Cummine rightly points out, the electorate has an opportunity to make a point.
William Dick
Southbrae Drive, Glasgow.
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