Thornliebank homes plan thrown out over road safety concerns

Bellway Homes’ application for land on Burnfield Road had been recommended for approval by Glasgow City Council’s planning team but councillors ruled against the advice.

They feared a proposal to widen the road would not address congestion issues outside the development site.

The application had been on hold since June, when the council’s planning committee decided it needed to visit the area before making a decision.

Councillor Michael Cullen called for the plan to be refused due to traffic safety worries. He believed it would have a detrimental impact on the local community.

He said: “Is this going to make the situation worse? I think there’s still a major safety issue about the access.”

Bailie Kyle Thornton had submitted an objection to the scheme on the grounds of parking and traffic flows along Burnfield Road.

The plans showed three vehicular accesses to the site, which would have been made up of 48 two bed flats, 48 three bed terraced properties, 26 three bed semi-detached houses, seven three bed detached houses and three four bed detached houses. There would also have been 216 parking spaces included in the development.

One access was planned for Thornliebank Road for people living in the flats and two on Burnfield Road, serving the houses.

A planning report stated: “The council recognise the existing traffic and parking situation along Burnfield Road.

“The application was accompanied by a robust transport assessment submitted by Dougall Baillie Associates on behalf of Bellway Homes.”

The assessment outlined two additional traffic flows which “if rounded up to the nearest car represent an increase of two cars per minute along Burnfield Road at peak times,” the report added.

“This increase is not considered to be excessive and in terms of traffic flows the proposed development is deemed to be acceptable.”

In response to Mr Cullen’s concerns, a council officer said they were satisfied the homes would “not a significant adverse effect on traffic safety in the area”.

It was argued that widening the road by one metre, as planned, would “improve the situation”. “This widening will enable existing residents parking to be better formalised along the northern side of Burnfield Road, whilst maintaining two way traffic flow,” the planning report stated.

Councillor Tony Curtis put forward a motion to agree the plan but impose conditions which would have ensured bollards were erected and the road widened to alleviate traffic issues.

However, an amendment by Mr Cullen, to refuse the application, was passed by 11 votes to four.

Bailie Anne McTaggart said: “I’m pretty scunnered at this application. I’m no really sure why you’d suggest that road is capable of having a garden hut built on that site. I just don’t think it’s practical to pass it.”