Owners of Minerva Street flats vow to object plans to transform Glasgow complex into 'hotel'

Homeowners at Drum-built 102 Minerva Street say they intend to lodge objections against a bid to change the use of 45 flats at their Finnieston block into short-term lets. 

Apartment-hotel firm Sonder officially submitted its application before planning chiefs last week. 

But outraged homeowners claim the potential project was pre-empted between developers, the short-term lets company and estate agents, Savills, way before their point of purchase.

READ MORE: Homeowners left 'gobsmacked' as new Glasgow complex could be turned into 'hotel'

Drum says that the properties in question are no longer their responsibility while Savills disclosed it had not had a sales presence at the address since last summer. 

Homeowner Kirsty Colquhoun learned of the bid just months after moving into her new home when she received a letter from Sonder through her door. 

She said: “I am angrier now than I was before. Between the three companies, they just keep blaming each other and pointing the finger at one another saying it is nothing to do with them. They each had their own involvement. 

“I am really disgusted in the way in which residents have been treated. We have been really stressed about this and a lot of us would never have bought these flats if we understood the complex could be turned into short-term serviced apartments.

“This should never have become a problem, never mind within the first year of us buying our properties and moving into them. We expected a residential complex and that is what was sold to us.”

The flats are only a stone’s throw away from one of Glasgow’s most popular entertainment venues, the OVO Hydro, which hosted COP26 in November.

Under Sonder’s plans, guests and residents will be provided with an on-site security team from 8am until 8pm every day with staff on-call to “deal with any issues”.

READ MORE: Homeowners demand answers as new Glasgow complex faces being turned into 'hotel'

On event evenings in the city, bodyguards will be provided until 1am.

Additionally, the firm will make a residents’ helpline available 24 hours per day while a CCTV system has been installed in the area. 

Colquhoun described the security propositions as an “intrusion” to the neighbourhood. 

She said: “You buy a home thinking you will be safe and that you will get to know your neighbours. Sonder says they will put on security, why should our homes need a security team? It is a bit of an intrusion. 

“Why are we in a situation where we may need security teams in a residential complex? Sonder obviously realises that there is potential for trouble to be caused and that there are risks to residents’ safety and wellbeing.

“As a woman, I won’t feel safe here if Sonder are granted planning permission. I won’t know who is coming and going and I won’t ever get to know my neighbours. It is appalling that we are in this situation.” 

While any decision is yet to be made on the proposals, local representative, Angus Millar, encouraged those who are concerned about the bid to lodge an official objection.

The SNP councillor said: “These flats were built as permanent homes, and residents moved into the development on that basis – converting these properties into short-term lets would set a concerning precedent and see a worrying erosion of new housing supply.

“We need to be supporting and building community in areas like Finnieston, rather than losing new homes to tourist accommodation. The flats in question also share communal areas with permanently occupied homes, and turning half this housing development into an apartment-hotel would result in an unacceptable impact on neighbouring residents.

“This should have been a non-starter, but it is now at least welcome that Sonder has accepted the need to bring forward a planning application – that provides the opportunity to formally object to these plans, and I would strongly encourage anyone concerned about these proposals to do so.”

The window for residents to comment on the planning application is currently open on the Glasgow City Council website. 

Sonder bosses said that they met with residents to address any potential worries prior to submitting their application.

A spokesperson said: “Sonder is a global hospitality company, operating responsibly over 35 markets around the world. 

“At our Minerva location, we currently operate units with dedicated onsite management, for periods of 90 days or more, in compliance with local regulations. 

“We continue to comply with all requests from the council, have met with local residents to address concerns and have submitted a planning application to enable short-term stays in the property.”

Drum outlined that Sonder is well within its rights to apply to the council for a change of use to the flats.

A spokesperson for the developers said: “G3 Square has been a highly successful residential development, which will ultimately create 220 new homes in the vibrant community of Finnieston. 

“The apartments in question are not in the control of Drum Property Group and are all currently unoccupied.   

“Any organisation or individual is, however, within their rights to apply to the local authority for a change in use of planning permission and interested parties will be able to comment on any such application when it comes 
forward.”

A spokesperson for Savills added: “Savills hasn’t had a sales presence at this development since late summer 2021. As previously stated, the 41 properties referred to were sold directly by Drum Property Group. 

“As such we would not be in a position to comment on their sale.”