By Drew Sandelands

Copyright glasgowlive

Offices in Drumchapel are set to be converted into a new community hub under a plan which will see the local library relocate.

Glasgow councillors have now approved a deal which involves the tenants at Garscadden House renouncing their lease of the building.

The agreement has been reached to allow the city council to meet its aim of providing more community facilities in Drumchapel. A council official said the long-term plan for Garscadden House is to help to tackle child poverty.

Drumchapel’s current library, at Hecla Avenue, will be moved into the ground floor of the west wing of the two-storey office building at Garscadden Road.

Glasgow City Council owns the land on which Garscadden House sits, but its arms-length organisation, Jobs & Business Glasgow (JBG), occupies the premises under a ground lease, and has retained any income made from the building.

An agreement has been reached which will see the council acquire the interests of JBG, which supports residents to move into work, take part in training or start businesses, for £285,000. Cllr Fiona Higgins, Labour, asked how the figure had been calculated.

Another council official said it related to the current income of JBG and “the length of time that income would be there”. Cllr Higgins also asked how the running costs for the building would be covered.

The official said rent paid by other parties using the building and a service charge for common areas would be used.

Councillors were also told the leases of current tenants in the east wing of the property would be honoured, with the official adding the “long-term aspiration for the building is that it is aimed at tackling child poverty”.

He said: “What we’ve done is speak to other council services areas, including HSCP, to see what type of services could be moved into the building that match local priorities.”

Around £15m was previously secured from the UK Government to support the regeneration of Drumchapel town centre. The project is expected to see improvements to Drumchapel Park, with plans to reopen the dilapidated pavilion as an active travel hub, including a cycling workshop and cafe.

Accessibility around the town centre is also set to be improved while the funding will enable the development of new affordable housing.

Cllr Ruairi Kelly, SNP, the council’s convener for development and land use, said: “The creation of a community hub in Drumchapel will provide a new focus there, providing a range of services for local people.

“The wider plans for Drumchapel town centre promise to significantly improve the area, and this is the first step to delivering those proposals.”

A council report added: “Drumchapel has been identified as a ‘priority ward’ for the establishing of additional community facilities in the form of a ‘hub’ for some time.

“The acquisition of JBG’s interest would allow the building to be repurposed as a community hub with proposals to relocate the library, co-locate other services and encourage further community use.”

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