Glasgow rejects short-term serviced apartments plan at former care home

Glasgow rejects short-term serviced apartments plan at former care home

Plans to convert the old Alexandra Court care home in Glasgow into a serviced apartment complex have failed to gain planning permission.

Commercial Connexions sought to offer 58 flats as well as a gym and sauna in the building at 332 Edinburgh Road, which was shut down by Barchester in December 2018.

The new apartments, which would have offered a maximum letting period of 90 days, would also have included a live-in concierge and numerous “break out areas where guests can meet and chat over a coffee”.

In their decision notice, Glasgow City Council’s planning department said the proposal did not meet the location criteria for tourist accommodation because visitor services such as restaurants weren’t nearby and public transport/ active travel provision was not highly accessible.



Officials also said it would be an “incongruous use” within a largely residential area.

A statement submitted with the application explained: “The proposed change of use of this vacant care centre will see a redundant building transformed into quality serviced apartments which will contribute to the ever increasing demand within the city for this type of accommodation.

“The development has been designed more along the lines of a hotel, with high quality rooms, a high level of ancillary facilities, on-site 24/7 reception/concierge services, with the added bonus of being set in landscaped grounds with easy access to the city centre.”

“Given the residential location and the previous use, the building lends itself to being converted into some form of residential accommodation, in this instance, serviced apartments” the plans added.



“The idea is to deliver a quality network of serviced apartments with live-in warden, supplemented by a range of ancillary services and facilities, which include a gymnasium, TV room, sauna, fully equipped laundry/press as well as a high standard of fixtures and fittings throughout.”


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