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Victoria Infirmary demolition plan approved ahead of sell-off

February 3 2016

Victoria Infirmary demolition plan approved ahead of sell-off
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking a developer to take on the former Victoria Hospital site in Glasgow’s south side following the migration of services to the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The 9.5 acre site which has lain vacant since May 2015 and an application to demolish non-listed buildings on the site on behalf of any future developer has already been approved - subject to a recommendation from Historic Scotland that lime and sand mix mortar be used for sandstone infill where a link corridor to the B-listed gatehouse is severed.

Director of facilities and capital planning David Loudon said: “The Board commenced marketing the site last October and have had a good response from the development industry. We are in complete agreement with the community that the worst possible outcome would be for this key site to lie vacant and derelict."

Commenting on the decision City Design said: “It is a great shame that these buildings which, while not listed, do have townscape and historic merit could be lost if this work is progressed within any future development of the site.

“Several of these buildings incorporate interesting and high quality design and materials and it is unlikely that buildings of this type or quality would be constructed by modern developers.”

A closing date for bids has been set for 10 March.
Hospital buildings will be demolished over a number of phases
Hospital buildings will be demolished over a number of phases
Only a small gatehouse building will be spared
Only a small gatehouse building will be spared

10 Comments

Paul Sweeney
#1 Posted by Paul Sweeney on 3 Feb 2016 at 15:19 PM
It's quite alarming that the only listed building on the site is the B-listed former two storey administration building located at the west of the site and in the image of the article. All original buildings on this site should be protected and conserved during the redevelopment. Can Historic Environment Scotland carry a full listing appraisal of the buildings on the site?
Paul Sweeney
#2 Posted by Paul Sweeney on 3 Feb 2016 at 16:19 PM
It's worth noting the following from the NHS press release in October 2015 regarding the demolition proposal:

Detailed proposals for the future use of the 9.5 acre site, including whether the existing buildings are redeveloped or demolished, will be for any successful developer to put forward and take through the relevant planning processes.

There is only one listed building on the site which is the former two storey administration building located at the west of the site. No other buildings on the site are listed and the site is not located within a conservation area.

Given that proposals for the site from potential developers are not yet known, Glasgow City Council planners have advised that an Application for Prior Notification and Prior Approval of Demolition and a related Application for Listed Building Consent identifying the full site (excluding the listed building) for demolition be lodged with them for approval.

This does not necessarily mean that all of the buildings on the site will be demolished but is a planning requirement for the purposes of marketing the site.

David Loudon (NHSGGC’s Director of Facilities and Capital Planning): “This marks the beginning of the process to sell the site to a suitable party rather than the formal planning process. There will of course be the opportunity for the community to fully engage in the planning process following the sale of the site.

“In the meantime we fully committed to keeping the community and other groups and individuals who are interested in the marketing and sale of the site fully informed.”

http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/2015/10/sale-of-victoria/

It's also worth noting similar demolition consent has been obtained for the unlisted but historically significant buildings at Stobhill Hospital in Springburn.
John Glenday
#3 Posted by John Glenday on 4 Feb 2016 at 14:12 PM
I understand that the long, narrow 'Nightingale ward' design precludes ready residential conversion
parp
#4 Posted by parp on 4 Feb 2016 at 14:30 PM
incredible that we have a council who actively encourages this sort of 'asset disposal'. but then, right enough, it must be hard to get a decent yield on residential in this part of the city without having to resort to knocking the lot down and building seven storeys of corrugated crud squeezed (citation needed) into the height of a four storey tenement. in fact probably more than seven storeys, lets call it ten on Battlefield Rd where there are some handily sited cupolas that raise the overall height of the existing wings. it's a pity there aren't any recent and relatively local examples of conversion of this sort of 'nightingale ward' into residential. if only someone could show us the way...
John
#5 Posted by John on 4 Feb 2016 at 21:32 PM
We and our cities are now subjugated by the bland, soulless and nasty developments of major contractors whose sole purpose is to get the most for the cheapest. Until this changes, every development from here on in will be of detriment to its surroundings and those who dwell in them.
Chris
#6 Posted by Chris on 4 Feb 2016 at 23:03 PM
This article gives the impression of NHSGGC being in agreement with the community: "We are in complete agreement with the community...". What it fails to mention is that, contrary to the NHS's own policies on community engagement, no consultation of substance has taken place.
It has been known for years that this site would be sold but no consultation or forward planning of any substance has taken place.
I also fail to understand how any meaningful consultation could take place after a sale, as NHSGGC insists. A develop could not make an offer AND intend to meaningfully consult later.
There is a very strong feeling locally that the community is being ignored and people are worried that the NHS will sell for the highest price - which will surely deny the chance for a planning that meets long term needs of the area. But that won't be the NHS's problem.
David
#7 Posted by David on 5 Feb 2016 at 10:57 AM
The current buildings on site present a very strong urban edge for this huge site to the surrounding high density city context. While new building could certainly take place in the middle of the plot, any demolition work to the pre war structures will most certainly be detrimental to the local area, and south glasgow as a whole. There is no way that a developer will replace these buildings with anything as substantial in materiality or massing. The fact that the vast majority of these buildings are not listed should allow them to be easily converted. My main concern is that the NHS will sell to the highest bidder with no concern for the design or urban planning of a site they have held for many many years. A worrying time for this part of the city, if I remember correctly a red sandston across the street was demolished to make way for a car park...a great example of urban planning there and a very alarming precedent for the outcome of historical sites sold by the NHS
Neil C
#8 Posted by Neil C on 8 Feb 2016 at 09:09 AM
Many of the Old Vic buildings lack any architectural merit, but the Nightingale wings along Battlefield Road and the red sandstone building on Langside/Grange Road should be listed immediately.

Hasn't Glasgow already lost enough unlisted but attractive and significant buildings?
LL
#9 Posted by LL on 6 Aug 2016 at 22:13 PM
So much beauty in a lot of these buildings. Many good and bad memories here but I would rather see them stay.
Christine Strachan
#10 Posted by Christine Strachan on 28 Aug 2017 at 22:21 PM
Our lovely Mother died in this filthy hospital in 2014. I took pictures of blood stained tissues on the floor and wiped dirt off the floor in the ward. Best thing to happen to it was for it to be raised to the ground. Staff problems too. Had a successful investigation carried out against the hospital. People shouldn't be treated in this way. We were put into the corridor when she died and treated like dirt. Passed my complaints on to the NHS, Scottish Parliament and various other relevant parties. Hopefully my investigation means that others and their loved ones are not treated the way we were.

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