May 14 2020

Wemyss Property has been granted full planning permission to proceed with 29 new build flats on the site of the B-listed Hillhead Baptist Church.

The façade retention scheme will preserve the ornate exterior of the corner landmark but will result in demolition of the main sanctuary, which has lain empty for close to 20 years and is considered to be unsafe. Here a five-level contemporary extension is planned to accommodate a mix of apartments together with a new church and community facility.

In a statement EMA Architects wrote: “This is a building that has lain derelict for many years and after a number of abortive attempts over a number of years by various developers and design teams to redevelop the site, we are pleased to have brought this stage of the process to a successful conclusion. The cost of saving the listed façade and delivering a new community space for the Church meant that the density had to be relatively high. 

“The density, the historic importance of the building and the sensitive location created challenges for the designers, for the planners and for the community.  The outcome will never please everyone but we’re particularly proud of the fact that a derelict corner of the neighbourhood will now be brought back into use for the benefit not only of people who want to live there, but for the local community that is served by Hillhead Baptist Church.”

Assuming the Covid-19 virus crisis eases work should start on the build by 2021.

9 Comments

#1 Posted by The Bairn on 14 May 2020 at 10:29 AM

Yes you got it right this time EMA.
Cant please everyone but at least it will be retained.

#2 Posted by StyleCouncil on 14 May 2020 at 10:40 AM

Utterly horrific. It looks like EMA have montaged the wrong building onto the site....is this a joke?

#3 Posted by Nairn's Bairn on 14 May 2020 at 11:08 AM

Top marks for retaining the façade, marks deducted for the overly high roof protrusion.

Developers always have to take it one step too far don't they?!

#4 Posted by Chris on 14 May 2020 at 11:16 AM

Not sensitive to the facade at all.

#5 Posted by Hells Bells on 14 May 2020 at 13:15 PM

Ooft.......the other angle is an absolute shocker.

https://scottishbusinessnews.net/2020/05/14/planning-permission-granted-to-breathe-new-life-into-historic-church-in-glasgows-west-end/

#6 Posted by Gandalf the Pink on 14 May 2020 at 18:50 PM

Hells Bells, thank you for sharing that image. Ouch.

#7 Posted by Grim Beeper on 14 May 2020 at 19:47 PM

We could always wait another 20 years for the next scheme folks?

#8 Posted by Ugh on 16 May 2020 at 09:34 AM

I think that'd be preferable Mr. Beeper. What a horrendous scheme.

#9 Posted by David on 23 Jun 2020 at 09:37 AM

This is actually borne out of a Stallan Brand scheme; https://stallanbrand.com/projects/hillhead-baptist-church/

Post your comments