Surplus Property Solutions had lodged plans in 2022 to replace the empty villa at 32 Mansionhouse Road in Langside with a five-storey development of 16 apartments, roof terrace amenity space and landscaping.

The application was initially recommended for approval by council planners who stated that the building isn’t listed, doesn’t lie within a conservation area and restoration isn’t “financially viable”. However, councillors opted for a site visit before holding a hearing, where the objectors and developers will be given an opportunity to present their arguments.

The decision was delayed a second time in April last year after new information about the plans emerged.

Glasgow City Council planning officials highlighted a draft report that showed the planned flats could cause a “significant loss” of daylight for nearby homes.

The report indicated that eighteen windows on the building “would fall below the recommended criteria” for loss of daylighting. Nine windows would have minor loss, five “moderate” and four “substantial”.

Now the city’s planning applications committee has approved the application.

A design document submitted by HAUS Collective stated that it had been “deemed unviable to retain and develop the existing building” following a review of “third party technical studies”.

It continued: “Our proposals for the subject site are for the creation of a residential development comprising 16 dual and triple aspect, private, built-for-sale apartments.

“Proposals prioritise amenity space, both communal and private, with the integration of a large rooftop area for communal use, external amenity, and extensive private balconies/terraces for every apartment within the development.”

The statement concluded: “Overall, an appropriate design solution for the site has been developed following an extensive site and area appraisal as well as detailed design process incorporating feedback from key stakeholders and from within Glasgow City Council planning department.”

An application by Iain Wilson Properties to build 20 two-bedroom flats in a five-storey block on the same site was refused on appeal in 2020 with a lack of justification for the loss of the sandstone villa cited in the decision.