A controversial plan to build riverside flats in Yoker has been approved despite concern from councillors – but the developer will need to ease flooding concerns before being allowed to start work.

Glasgow councillors have awarded planning permission in principle to Carmichael Homes Scotland Ltd to build on vacant land on Yoker Ferry Road.

More details will need to be agreed at a later date before the scheme can go ahead.

The councillors hope their decision will mean extra information on how the developer would tackle the flood risk will be provided.

Councillor Glenn Elder, who chaired the planning local review committee, said: “We either reject it wholly or we have to allow it and then have it tested.”

More than 80 people, including ward councillors Bill Butler, Chris Cunningham and Eva Murray, had objected to the proposal amid fears the site is at risk of flooding.

A previous proposal was rejected in 2019, when concerns over building on a floodplain were raised.

READ MORE: D-day for controversial Yoker riverside flats plan

Carmichael Homes has suggested an undercroft will help to elevate the development above flood levels.

A council officer said: “We don’t have the details on quite how that undercroft would work.

“There’s certainly a level of detail we don’t have, to assess whether these mitigation measures would be appropriate.”

A condition of the permission means the developer will need to demonstrate the scheme will have a neutral impact on floodplain capacity.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) objected to the application and the council officer said: “SEPA are almost in the position that we are here.

“In their objection, they are uncertain about the flood risk associated with the undercroft element of the proposal and seeking further clarification on that, because they don’t have the detail they are objecting.”

However, the agency is “softening its position on stilted development”, the officer added.

“I think the developer is very much taking an angle here that with that undercroft they would regard this as basically being stilted development that has, as they say, a neutral impact on flood plain capacity.”

READ MORE: Yoker Ferry Road flats bid sparks angry response from neighbours

The site, vacant since 2008, sits alongside the River Clyde near to the slipway for the Renfrew Ferry.

Carmichael Homes describe the application as “an opportunity to reuse a vacant site to create an attractive residential development”.

Cllr Elder said: “We actually don’t have the information that we require in order to make a decision. Thus, we have either to reject or accept based on a lack of information.

“The only alternative to that would be to grant and have it tested by a full planning committee.”

The committee, made up of three councillors, decided to approve the plans.

Councillor Cecilia O’Lone said: “We’re clear that this is only in principle, it will come back, and all the people can come back and make comments when they have got full information.

“I would like to see more. They are saying they can be innovative about how they deal with the flood risk; let’s see it.”

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