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Planners at East Renfrewshire Council had recommended Westpoint Homes’ proposal for the former Mearns Primary School site was given the go ahead.
But the planning committee rejected the scheme amid concerns over the access road and the suitability of the site.
The decision came after over 20 objections, many from residents in nearby Scholars Court, which raised a number of issues including overlooking, over-development and the height of the buildings.
The overflow car park sits behind a Marks & Spencer foodhall and beside a Royal Mail sorting office and Mearns library.
M&S had concerns about the impact on delivery and servicing access to its store while Royal Mail was worried about “potential noise complaints” from new residents.
Westpoint wanted to build two blocks of flats, each with a private balcony or terrace, to be marketed to over-55s due to pressure on school places in East Renfrewshire.
A council report stated the owners of the site had monitored the demand for parking and confirmed the car park is “surplus to requirements and that sufficient car parking within the remainder of the site can accommodate demand”.
Planners added the site is “considered to be a highly sustainable location for residential development” and the scheme was “considered to be of a design, scale, height, massing and density that is in keeping with the buildings in the locality”.
READ MORE: Plans revealed to build extension at school
“The height of the buildings has been reduced to 4 storeys which is more in keeping with the surrounding area and the neighbouring development at Scholars Court,” the report stated.
“Any potential adverse overlooking has been addressed by means of privacy screens.”
They also reported the proposal would not be “considered to give rise to significant additional overlooking” and the council’s road service had no objection to the plan, subject to conditions which would have been attached to the planning permission.
However, Cllr Andrew Morrison, Conservative, said he was “still quite concerned about vehicle access to this, because the existing road is single track in parts”.
He said while there was a proposal to widen the road, it is “essentially going to be a shared space with a significant number of HGVs”.
A council planner said there was an “expectation” that the road would be widened. He highlighted there was no objection from the council’s roads team.
However, Cllr Morrison moved the application was rejected as he believed it would result in “significant loss of character and amenity to the surrounding area” and wasn’t “appropriate to the location”. He added it did not provide safe access.
“There are complaints from residents already with respect to HGV movements in the goods yard which is from the residents of Scholars’ Court and this application will be even closer to said yard.”
His motion was seconded by Cllr Paul Edlin and permission was refused. Provost Mary Montague had been in favour of approving the application.
