Detailed plans for a major residential development on the site of the former Jordanhill Campus have been submitted by Cala Homes (West).
A so-called 'matters specified in conditions' planning application was lodged with Glasgow City Council today (Friday, March 3).
It comes six years after 'planning permission in principle' was obtained by the University of Strathclyde, owners of the 31-acre site, for a residential developer.
Cala Homes says its multi-million pound scheme will conserve significant landscape and heritage features.
Anticipating Cala's application, hundreds of local residents and representatives have mobilised against the plans.
They claim the proposals in their current form make no provision for schooling, extra traffic volumes, local amenities or the management of local sports pitches.
Residents under the auspices of the community council accept development will take place, but say the scale of what is proposed is not appropriate.
Central to the proposals submitted today, according to Cala, is the retention of the university’s Category B-listed David Stow building, which will be converted into luxury apartments.
Two other buildings, Graham House and Douglas House, which don’t have listed status, are also to be conserved and converted under the plans.
According to Cala Homes, the plans will enhance the existing landscape and create new public access to parkland located within the site.
More than 40 per cent of the proposed development will be retained as greenspace, Cala says.
Playing fields and acres of ancient woodland located on the site will be protected with designated play areas of various styles proposed within the site.
More than 400 homes will be available at the development, which, according to Cala Homes, will offer a diverse range of bespoke, high quality properties from one bedroom flats to large, detached family homes.
The new buildings that will be created by the development have been sympathetically designed, the company says, and will be constructed in high quality natural materials which will complement the existing buildings and landscape.
According to Cala Homes, the development’s streets and spaces have been designed around people rather than vehicles, and will give open access and views to the parkland setting and historic buildings.
Jim McIntyre, managing director of Cala Homes (West), said: “We’re very excited about our plans for the former Jordanhill Campus, where we are seeking to create a wide range of much-needed high quality homes.
“The plans offer an opportunity to build on the legacy of Jordanhill Campus and deliver a new community asset for local residents.
"The proposals will enhance the site by protecting the green space available, improving the existing historic parkland and removing unsightly and derelict buildings.
“Having such a wide range of homes will also deliver a real benefit and will help meet the growing demand for high quality housing within the city.
"People who live in Jordanhill, but require to downsize or upsize to a new home and don’t want to move away from the local community will in future be able to remain in the area, close to their neighbours, family and friends.”
The residential development proposed for the site has been designed by architects 7N Architects.
Ewan Anderson, managing partner at 7N, said: “It has been an extremely rewarding process for us to develop the design of the proposed development at Jordanhill with Cala.
“The landscape is what makes the site special and is at the heart of our plans.
"The streets and spaces have been designed so they engage with the parkland setting and provide a safe place to walk, cycle and play whilst maximising the extraordinary views available from the site.
“Also central to our plans are the existing historic buildings.
"These will be sensitively restored and converted to preserve the significant character of the site and deliver an exemplary residential development that the city can be proud of.”
Last month, a working party opposed to the current plans fired off alternative proposals - a community value proposition (CVP) - for existing community sports pitches to be used by Jordanhill School and local sports clubs as well as the construction of a multi-functional community building.
Community chiefs hope the counter-proposals will see the development drastically reduced.
Residents claim they have been “conned” by Strathclyde University which said it would leave a lasting legacy for Jordanhill when it vacated the site.
John Grierson, a spokesman for Jordanhill Community Council, said last month: “Local residents have been mobilising since seeing the proposals just before Christmas.
“A public meeting attracted 350 residents and a working group was formed to co-ordinate all the objections.
“We have produced a Community Value Proposition which argues that the residents of Jordanhill deserve some benefit from this development and suggests how this might be achieved.
“Our unique site is under threat to be consumed as yet another 'exclusive ' Cala 'gated' development, totally car-dependant.
“It is vital to protect and enhance the city’s historic environment and achieve physical community value-benefits.
“There are huge environmental, traffic and road safety impacts in the planning application to develop the campus and no-one should be in any doubt that the people of Jordanhill aren’t prepared to accept the plans in their current form.
“We are awaiting a response from the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow City Council to our proposition."
A spokesman for the Jordanhill Campus working group which is co-ordinating opposition to the plans said (Friday): "Jordanhill Community Council and local residents have already stated their intention to contest the plans.
"The former currently await formal responses from Glasgow City Council and University of Strathclyde to a community value proposition which seeks long-term benefit for the community.
"Local residents are disappointed that Cala appear to have ignored feedback from an Information Event they held shortly late last year."
