Residents anger at St Vincent Crescent development

A WEST END community claimed this week that Glasgow City Council are placing "profit before people" through a joint marketing agreement for a new development in Finnieston which will see the council and Scottish Power share over £5mil-lion. Scottish Power currently leases its land in Finnieston for £50k a year, but the proposed property deal on the four acre site would mean that Scottish Power would receive £4.75million of any sale up to £5.5m.

Scottish Power agreed a 99-year lease on the site with the council in 1968, meaning that they have the rights to remain on the site, subject to review every 21 years. The next review is due to take place ; in 2010. Glasgow City Council would receive £0.75m from the sale, while any capital receipts from funds generated above a £5.5m sale would be split equally between Scottish Power and the council. The Conservation Area Appraisal for St Vincent Crescent was approved in April stating that a "Conservation area designation should be regarded as the first positive step towards an area's protection and enhancement."

THE ST VINCENT CRESCENT Area Association has labelled the Conservation Area Appraisal for St Vincent Crescent as a "sham" and claim the development will "ruin the character and history of the Crescent." Liz Taylor, Secretary of the St Vincent Crescent Residents Association said: "Glasgow City Council is supposed to be protecting and preserving our architectural heritage and built environment for the benefit of future generations. However this property deal is directly opposed to these core values. We therefore believe that the marketing partnership for St Vincent Crescent needs to be scrutinised before matters progress further and we all live to regret the consequences." MSP Pauline McNeil expressed her concern and stated that she was supporting the residents in their objections. She also said that: "Given that an application has already failed, I am hoping that the Planning Committee will uphold the same standards and make it clear to any future applications that conservation rules remain as standard."

Scottish Power has already lodged a detailed planning application for a residential development of 132 units on the land. The application is currently under consideration and has been the subject of a large number of objections by residents, who have highlighted concerns about traffic management proposals and an absence of family accommodation.

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council commented that: "The marketing agreement is seeking to take forward a new housing opportunity in the city. It will see the replacement of an old industrial depot with good quality housing." Scottish Power' s spokesperson said: "Scottish Power are in partnership with Glasgow City Council and any proposal for a site will take into consideration the surrounding area." West End News