Development of 130 new flats is given the go-ahead

Glasgow city planners have given property developer Barony Homes Limited consent to develop 130 new flats in Dennistoun’s Circus Drive.

On behalf of the Glasgow School Board, architect Alexander Nesbit Paterson designed the Golfhill School building which opened back in 1902.

The developers aim to keep the façade of the Golfhill School building but demolish the rest as since 2010 the building has been on the “buildings at risk” register.

Spectrum Properties, partner company of Barony Homes Limited, is no stranger to transforming derelict buildings as the company has converted sites such as Shakespeare Street School in North Kelvin, Hillhead High School in Cecil Street in Glasgow, the former Hydepark Public School in Springburn, and Shettleston Public Baths.

What to expect from the new development

The company aims to “preserve and enhance the setting of the listed building and structures”, but “years of groundwater action had resulted in severe structural movement and partial collapse, which ultimately led to the abandonment of the building for the purposes for which it was constructed.”

“Whilst demolition would have been an obvious answer, the opportunity for cross-subsidy funding from the new-build development on the adjoining site enabled a strategy for a facade retention of the principal southern elevation and the key architectural features of the east and west flanks to the octagonal towers.”

The application proposes a tenemental style mix of blocks built in three phases. Green spaces, paths across the site that connect adjacent roads and parking all form part of the plans.

William Roddie, director of family-owned Spectrum Properties said: “We are delighted that we are now breaking ground on this important new development for the Dennistoun area which will offer the best of modern living with bright, open plan living space and quality homes in one of the city’s most vibrant and diverse areas.”

“Our plans will create areas which are desirable to both new and existing residents to pass through and linger in, an improvement on the overgrown and unsafe areas which currently exist on site.”