ANGRY residents have slammed the decision to grant outline approval for a new block of flats next to the Clyde.

As reported in the Post last week, councillors voted to give the green light – at least in principle – to Carmichael Homes’ proposals for 36 homes on a vacant site close to Yoker Ferry Road.

But people living in nearby Ellerslie Road say a “local planning review committee” didn’t take their concerns over the plans, by Carmichael Homes, seriously enough.

More than 80 people objected to the developer’s application, with concerns including flood risk, vehicle parking, fire escape arrangements, and loss of amenity.

Phil Jarvis from the Ellerslie Road Residents’ Association said: “This is an important decision. The application had more than 80 objections, yet the people on the committee made the decision without visiting the site.

“It was clear from the comments they made that they had no idea about the site or the impact this development will have on the community.

“The committee said they didn’t have enough information to pass the plans, but they didn’t have enough information to throw them out either.

“This is the third application to build on that site, and twice before plans have been thrown out.

“The committee didn’t discuss any concerns apart from flooding. If the developer can answer that it will seem as if everything else has been swept under the carpet.”

Ellerslie Road resident Bill Faerestrand added: “The developer wants to plant a massive seven-storey block right in front of our homes.

“I don’t think the councillors realise how small this scrap of land is and how large the development will be.

“The development’s emergency escape arrangement is on to land the developer doesn’t own, and the owner of that land says they will not allow it.

“The area is also jam-packed with cars as it is, because there’s nowhere else for vehicles to park, and this will only make it worse.”

Mr Faerestrand said it was “inevitable” the site would flood – and claimed that data on water levels submitted with the plans was “irrelevant” because it was taken from a location 1km downstream of the site.

Carmichael Homes will have to submit a further, much more detailed, application for planning permission to Glasgow City Council, and have it approved, before building at the site can begin.

Scott Carmichael, managing director of Carmichael Homes, told the Post: “These are elderly residents who have always objected. Some people just don’t like change.

“They think it’s going to block their view, but the law says you have no right to a view.

“We have submitted detailed flood risk assessments based on a predicted one in 500 year flood event. Under our designs, residents will be at least eight metres above that water level; if the Clyde does burst its banks, the water would come in underneath the building and go straight back out when water levels recede.

“On parking, there will be one space for every flat we build, and we will not build anything on any land we don’t own. I own all the land I intend to develop.”

Asked when a detailed planning application might be lodged, Mr Carmichael said: “It’s not a case of how long it will take us to prepare an application – it’s a question of when we decide to do it. We have a lot of developments in the pipeline at the moment.

“I would expect we will have lodged a detailed application by the end of 2021.

“I believe this will be a fantastic development for Yoker and a great thing for the riverside.”

Mr Carmichael said he had yet to decide whether the new flats, in the event of detailed permission being approved, would be social housing or for private ownership.