Glasgow hotel's bid to build extension refused amid privacy concerns

Willow Hotel
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A bid to extend a hotel in Garnethill has been refused by council planners due to privacy concerns and poor design.

Glasgow City Council has rejected an application to add rooms to the Willow Hotel on Renfrew Street.

Officials believed the proposals would have a “detrimental impact” on neighbours and failed to respect the character of the area.

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There had been 12 objections to the plan which was described as “inappropriate” for the site. They feared parking problems could be exacerbated and also raised concerns over loss of daylight and privacy.

The applicants wanted to build an extension to the rear of the building — terraced townhouses which have been converted to a hotel — which would have created “88.9m of additional floor space, per floor, on the first and second floors”.

However, planners refused to grant permission as they said the plan would “have a detrimental impact upon daylight and privacy to surrounding windows and gardens, negatively impacting upon residential amenity in the setting”.

They added the development would fail to “respect the architectural and historic character” of the surrounding conservation area, had been “poorly designed” and would “erode the character of the building and neighbouring properties”.

Officials decided the extension would “not be in keeping with the existing terraced building and the wider area” and would be “an incongruous and disproportionate addition”.

Their decision added the proposal would “dominate the existing building and the neighbouring dwellings to the detriment of visual and residential amenity and the character of the street scene”.

Objectors also had fears over the impact on drainage and the potential loss of mature trees in the area. They believed the flat roof proposed by the applicants was unsuitable.

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