Glasgow City Council has halted construction work on the site of a former convent 'to protect trees'. 

On Thursday of last week, the council issued a 'Temporary Stop Notice' to pause all construction work on the development site at 32 Mansionhouse Road in the Langside area of the city. 

The council said the action was taken due to "violations" of planning conditions designed to protect the site's trees and their Root Protection Areas (RPAs).

The development, approved earlier this year, includes plans for 16 luxury residential apartments, car parking, landscaping, and associated works.

According to the council, the intervention took place after it identified "ongoing breaches" to a number of planning conditions, including "a failure to install and maintain approved tree protection measures"; "a failure to allow the Planning Authority to inspect tree protection measures before work began" and "a failure to submit monthly arboricultural inspection reports during construction".

The council said that these "failures" have "placed protected trees at significant risk due to activities like soil movement, material storage, and vehicle use within RPAs".

"These breaches not only threaten the trees but also undermine the development’s legal planning approval", the council added. 

The council note that the 'Temporary Stop Notice' - effective for up to 28 days - serves as "a precautionary measure to enforce compliance with tree protection measures outlined in the planning consent" and "uphold the integrity of the planning process and the legal requirements for the site".​

Contravening a 'Temporary Stop Notice' is a criminal offence that applies to individuals or landowners who breach or permit breaches of the notice, which becomes effective upon being served or displayed on-site.  There is no right of appeal against the TSN.

Courts can impose fines up to £50,000 on summary conviction, with no upper limit on indictment, and consider any financial gains derived from the breach. Additionally, the council may seek an interdict to halt ongoing unlawful works if necessary.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Failing to observe planning conditions in Glasgow will have consequences - and in cases such as this, we will stop development work to ensure that not only is our natural heritage protected, but that environmental safeguards and legal obligations are respected. 

"We are intervening here to stop further damage to protected trees and ensure legal compliance.”