Council rejects planning bid by homeless shelter over crime fears
GoogleCouncillors have voted to reject a planning application brought by a controversial homeless shelter in Glasgow.
The charity Homeless Project Scotland (HPS) has provided an overnight space and soup kitchen at the Glassford Street premises without planning permission since November 2023.
Glasgow City Council's planning committee said police reports of crime and anti-social behaviour at the site, as well as concerns over public safety, were behind its decision.
The charity - which says the shelter supports around 30 people a night - is considering whether to appeal.
HPS will have the right of appeal for up to three months and any enforcement action will be delayed until the conclusion of an appeal.
Planners at the council recommended refusal as the development has "been linked strongly to an increase in anti-social behaviour and crime in the Glassford Street locality".
A report to councillors stated Police Scotland confirmed 274 crimes had been directly attributed to the shelter since the first complaint was received in January 2024.
However the charity argued there was not enough evidence demonstrating a direct link between the shelter's operation and anti-social behaviour.
They added Police Scotland had not objected.
Planning permission was sought on a temporary basis, for up to five years, for the 24-hour shelter, which uses the ground floor and basement of a seven-storey building.
Food is prepared off the premises and then brought to Glassford Street to be served.
Councillor Ken Andrew, who chaired the planning committee, said: "I'm just not sure that this is the right location for a homeless shelter.
"I remain concerned about the number of individuals in the basement.
"As much as I would probably like to be in a position to go against the recommendation and be granting, I don't think I can. I worry about this."
He later added he was "concerned about the number of crimes tagged to this particular business".
Police stats should 'be taken with a pinch of salt'
Councillor Imran Alam said the service was "much needed" and he was "not particularly convinced by the stats from Police Scotland".
He added: "I think we have got to take that with a pinch of salt and not attribute all those crimes to the service users who use the facility.
"If we refuse this application, where are these people going to go? Are they going to continue sleeping on the streets?
"At least here they have got a place to stay, they have got access to hot food."
Alam put forward an amendment to approve the application, but it was defeated by eight votes to two.
A council planner told the committee that the city's health and social care partnership said other facilities were available in the city.
A previous planning bid, and an appeal, from HPS have also been rejected due to concerns over increased anti-social behaviour.
The council report said: "It has been confirmed that the levels of criminal activity are extremely high and present a significant demand to Police Scotland, a demand that they confirm was not present at this location prior to January 2024."
It added: "The housing emergency and challenges of homelessness are recognised as a matter of significant priority for the council.
"However, the impacts on the residential and business community of the anti-social behaviour described in in this report are given significant weight in assessing the suitability of the proposal at this location."
The report continued the issues were not mitigated by the potential to address the homeless problem to the extent that they "overcome the harmful effects of the fear of crime".
Plans by HPS said the shelter operated a no tolerance policy to drugs and alcohol and helped families and people with few alternatives.
