Thousands object to plan to demolish gym for flats

Thousands of people objected to the new development of flats in Finnieston

Plans to demolish a gym to build nearly 400 new flats in the west end of Glasgow have been approved, despite thousands signing a petition to keep it open.

The development of 391 flats on Minerva Way in Finnieston was backed by councillors due to the city's housing emergency.

But over 2,100 people signed a petition to keep the Nuffield Health gym open, and objectors said they would consider challenging the decision.

Campaigners said the flat development does not meet Scottish government guidelines for affordable housing.

David Johnson, one of the objectors, said: "I don't think that it will do anything to help the affordable housing emergency.

"The development does not have 25% affordable housing, which all new developments should have."

A planning committee member said it was important to increase housing stock to take the pressure off existing housing.

Keith Trotter and Vicki Simpson were among the central campaigners

The gym has been on the site for 25 years with a current membership of over 3,000 people.

There is another Nuffield gym nearby, on Finnieston Street, but campaigners said it had a smaller capacity and the facilities were not comparable.

"Nuffield is more than a gym," said Keith Trotter, a local resident who campaigned against the development.

"It's is a wide open space that's very family-centred. We've got a creche and a big kids pool for swimming lessons and it also has separate male and female saunas.

"The other Nuffield doesn't have any of that, neither do other gyms in the area."

Glasgow housing plans

The planning committee voted seven to three in favour and landowners Redevco were granted permission to construct build-to-rent homes on the land.

Mr Trotter said the council decision was "frustrating" to campaigners.

"We're not against more housing in the area but it needs to be the right kind of housing in the right place," he said.

"This isn't social housing, it's not something that's affordable for most people.

"You need more than just housing in a community, and this is taking away facilities."

The current site houses a large gym but landowners say Nuffield's lease has expired

Plans for the site include a gym for residents and roof gardens

Council planners recommended the scheme be approved and told the committee the site is "currently underdeveloped".

One official said the gym was "well-used and well-loved" but its loss had been established by a previous planning application approved in 2021.

A representative from Redevco said the firm bought the site in 2022 with planning consent in place but has "sought to improve the offer".

He said Nuffield Health's previous lease had expired in November last year, and there was now a clause which allowed the owners to break the lease with three months' notice.

However, objector Richard Bush said the current application proposed to build double the number of flats compared to the original permission granted.

He said the latest planning framework from the Scottish government "emphasises improving the health of west central Scotland and opportunities for play, socialising, relaxation and physical activity, which is exactly what this gym does".

Planning committee chairman Ken Andrew said: "We have a huge homelessness problem and what this does is it increases the housing stock in Glasgow.

"It basically will take pressure off existing housing tenure types. It is regrettable that we lose the gym but there are other facilities locally."

Redevco will pay over £247,000 as the scheme does not meet the requirements for amenity space, children's play and outdoor sport.

Plans include a gym for residents, a library, lounge areas, bike stores, roof gardens and a central courtyard.

Additional reporting by local democracy journalist Drew Sandelands.