RESIDENTS fear a development of new flats will cause stability problems with an old tunnel under their street.

Surplus Property Solutions has been granted permission to build 34 flats on Yorkhill Street despite residents’ claims that building work could put pressure on a disused train tunnel.

Architects have said the six storey development could help stop anti-social behaviour in the area.

However, Yorkhill Street residents are worried about the number of developments above the tunnel.

Rachel Hynes said: “The site has a huge tunnel underneath running the length of Yorkhill Street, the stress of which has been hugely tested with large builds over the last five years.

“The tunnel length has had at least three different student flat developments built on it since previous planning on this site was approved, including the very recent 609 ‘True’ flat, which required significant pile-driving for concrete floor removal and heavy excavation for foundations, in the last two years.

“A development of this size will have a worrying impact on the stability of the ground in the whole area.”

Hedda MacLeod, who also lives close to the site, added: “It has been pointed out to me that there is a large tunnel running beneath Yorkhill Street and that the construction of yet another new and very large development here could affect the stability of ground in the area and could thus be highly detrimental to the building in which I live.”

The council however said it should not be problem.

Richard Brown, Glasgow City Council’s executive director of development, said: “Network Rail have not objected to the proposals and as the section of railway tunnel in question is disused and due to be infilled as part of the development, it is not considered that structural or stability issues will arise as long as the building is constructed to the required standards.

“There is a shortage of newbuild private sector housing identified in the Glasgow housing land supply and the re-use of brownfield sites in a residential neighbourhood is an ideal location for such development.”

The development will include a range of two-bedroom flats with open plan kitchen, dining and living rooms and private balconies.

There will only be 17 car parking spaces, meaning that only half of the flats will be allocated spaces.