PLANS to turn a Knightswood church hall into a restaurant and takeaway have been turned down over concerns the building could be better used by the local community.

Glasgow City Council planners refused a bid to reuse the building on Saxon Road as they said it would be an “unjustified loss” of a community facility.

The owners argued there are “falling numbers” visiting churches and urged councillors on the city’s planning review committee to reconsider the application.

But the committee voted six to three in favour of upholding the original decision at a meeting on Tuesday. The developer has recently submitted a second plan for the restaurant and takeaway, which is still under consideration by the council.

Cllr Paul Leinster, SNP, said he isn’t “necessarily opposed to this site being developed” and doesn’t want to “see it deteriorate further and become an eyesore”.

But he added: “I think we need further information and I am happy to uphold the decision to refuse on the basis that there is another application on the way that will hopefully have more information.”

Planners had said policy states the council “will safeguard against the loss of community facilities unless it can be demonstrated that they are no longer needed”.

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They added the applicant has “not provided evidence that the community’s views were sought on continued community use, or that other community uses were sought”.

Bailie Martha Wardrop, Greens, said she shared concerns “about information relating to community engagement” and wanted to “see written evidence that there has been community engagement”.

(Image: LDR) The second planning application, which has yet to be decided on, stated there have been two marketing campaigns and “no community use came forward”.

The initial plan, which was the subject of the appeal, was to “change the use of the building to a composite use comprising a restaurant and hot food takeaway”, a council report stated. It was proposed that the venue, including deliveries, would operate from 8am to 11pm, seven days a week.

The appeal, submitted on behalf of Salman Amin, stated the hall has “remained unused” since it was “disposed of by the trustees of the Christian Brethren”.

It added: “The applicant, who was the purchaser, acquired the property as an investment and placed it on the market which attracted a local user who asked the applicant to gain consent for the use being considered by this local review.”

Cllr Imran Alam, Labour, said he was “quite supportive” of the original application as it was “maybe something that’s needed in that neighbourhood”.

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“It’s a shame that it could have been used for community purposes, but clearly no one has come forward. The individual who has bought the building has decided to make it into a food business.”

Cllr Saqib Ahmed, Labour, added the building “has been lying empty for some time” and would “provide an extra facility to the local community”.

The second application also revealed the prospective tenants want to open a “cafe/restaurant that will operate seven days per week, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner”.

It stated: “We are eager to contribute positively to the Knightswood community and believe that our cafe/restaurant will be a valuable addition to the area.”