Object to the proposed development of 59 co-living flats at the former Alexandra Court Care Home in Carntyne by Friday 2 January

Accommodate Global Ltd and Padrino Design have applied to Glasgow City Council for planning consent to convert the former Alexandra Court Care Come at 332 Edinburgh Road in Carntyne to 59 studio flats, which they claim are intended to be for shipbuilding industry contractors.

I have a series of objections to this proposed development which I have set out in my letter to Glasgow City Council below. If you agree, then please submit your own letter to Glasgow City Council citing the reference number 25/02088/FUL at: planning.representations@glasgow.gov.uk

Image of the former Alexandra Court Care Home, which closed in December 2018

The full text of my objection letter is below. You are welcome to use any or all parts of it in drafting your own letter to Glasgow City Council. Ensure that your letter is dated 2 January 2026 so it is valid.

Sarah Shaw

Head of Planning

Glasgow City Council

229 George Street

Glasgow G1 1QU

2 January 2026

Objection to Planning Application Reference 25/02088/FUL – Change of Use of Former Care Home to Co-Living Accommodation at Alexandra Court, 332 Edinburgh Road, Glasgow, G33 2PH

Dear Ms Shaw,

I am writing to object to the above planning application on the grounds that it represents inappropriate development within a suburban residential neighbourhood. The proposed change of use from a former care home (Use Class C2), that was completed in 1992 and closed in 2018, to temporary co-living accommodation (Sui Generis) in 59 studio flats would have a detrimental impact on the local area, contrary to key policies in the Glasgow City Development Plan.

The two-storey brick building, with a floorspace of approximately 2,541 square metres, is in Carntyne, a predominantly residential suburb in Glasgow's East End, characterised by family homes and low-density housing. Introducing co-living accommodation, which typically caters to short-term residents such as contractors, would disrupt the established residential character and amenity of the neighbourhood. This could lead to increased noise, traffic, parking pressure, and demands on local services, undermining the quiet, family-oriented environment that residents value.

Such a development is ill-suited to this suburban location and risks eroding community cohesion. This proposal contravenes City Development Plan Policies CDP 1: Placemaking and CDP 2: Sustainable Spatial Strategy, which requires developments to enhance place quality, respect the character of the surrounding area, and protect residential amenity in established neighbourhoods. The intensive, communal nature of co-living, with potentially high occupancy and turnover of temporary residents, would not integrate well with the existing low-rise, family housing and is likely to cause adverse impacts on neighbouring properties in terms of privacy, noise, and general disturbance.

I have contacted senior management at BAE Systems, who have confirmed that they are unaware of any arrangement or requirement for housing shipyard contractors or subcontractors at this proposed accommodation, which is a considerable distance from their sites at Govan and Scotstoun shipyards. The application includes the suggestion that the proposed development will provide specialist housing for such workers, but this appears to be unsubstantiated and speculative in nature. It therefore cannot justify the change of use. No evidence of an accommodation contract or even an agreement in principle with BAE Systems or any of its subcontractors has been presented in support of the application.

This speculative proposal is incompatible with the residential nature of the area and conflicts with the City Development Plan's policies aimed at protecting neighbourhood character and amenity.

I therefore urge your officers to recommend refusal of this application to the Planning Applications Committee to safeguard the quality of life and amenity for local residents.

It is my view that the only appropriate uses for this site would be to reopen the existing building as a care home, to convert the existing building to permanent flatted accommodation for sale, or social or mid-market rent, or the demolition of the building for a new residential development.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Sweeney MSP

Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Region

(Scottish Labour and Co-operative Party)

Letter of Objection - 332 Edinburgh Road Carntyne.pdf

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