A MAJOR development at Glasgow Harbour is failing to attract new shop owners because of restrictive opening hours rules.

Kippax, part of the Dandara Group, are creating 348 homes, as well as commercial units for retail, financial or professional services, and food and drink businesses.

But one of the conditions imposed by city planning chiefs means that shops can only operate from 9am to 9pm each day.

Developers have now applied for a change to that condition after property consultants Coates and Co, and FG Burnett insisted that increased opening hours were the key to securing businesses.

In a letter to city chiefs, Natasha Douglas, planning manager for Kippax, said: “This condition is unattractive to potential occupiers who require longer operating hours in order to operate a viable business.

“Dandara have discussed the marketing of the commercial units with a number of local agents who advise that this restriction will severely impact on the attractiveness of these units to Class One and Class Three occupiers.

“They have recommended that the hours of operation be extended to increase attractiveness.

“Approval of the application to vary the condition will make the commercial units more attractive to potential occupiers such as retail, coffee shops and restaurants who, for business-related purposed, require extended operating hours to that proposed by the current condition 30.

“This will, in turn, add to the vitality and vibrancy of the development.”

Kippax have now applied to have the shops open from 7.30pm to 10pm on weekdays and 8am to 10pm at weekends.

The application came after Alasdair Coates, director of Coates and Co, and Richard Noble, managing director of FG Burnett, told Kippax that companies would be put off by restricted hours.

Mr Coates said: “We act for a number of national operators and I can confirm that they would be unlikely to consider any property with such restrictions.”

Mr Noble added: “It is my opinion, having acted for a number of retail, restaurant and coffee shop operators, that these hours are too restrictive and unlikely to attract any interest.”

Glasgow City Council’s planning bosses will make a decision on the application in the coming months.

Consent had originally been given in 2016 for 81 studio, 135 one-bedroom and 132 two-bedroom apartments.

The developers are creating 313 car parking spaces underneath the site and have included 246 double stack cycle spaces in their plans.

As well as the shop units, there will also be a gym on the site.

The new site makes up phase three of the Glasgow Harbour masterplan, with the first two stages, involving five blocks of flats, already completed and occupied.