Users of the Nuffield Health gym on Minerva Way are urging councillors to reject a plan from real estate firm Redevco to create 391 homes for rent on the land.
A petition against the project has now passed 2,000 signatures, but planners at Glasgow City Council have recommended it can be approved tomorrow.
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They have said there are “numerous” facilities nearby, including a Nuffield Health gym within 400 metres, and highlighted how plans for flats on the site were previously approved in 2021.
But Vicki Simpson, who is part of a group of gym users opposing the scheme, said the members, which total over 3,000, were unaware of the initial plan because “we were all in lockdown”.
Keith Trotter, who said the staff are “worried sick”, added: “They said it was a brownfield underutilised site. Clearly it was a brownfield, underutilised site because we had a national pandemic.”
He said there were a “handful” of objections “simply because nobody knew”, but now there are over 250 objections to the council.
The 2021 approval allowed 195 homes for private sale, but the developers returned in 2023 with a plan for 362 build-to-rent flats. Now, they want to build 391.
Dr David Johnson, who lives nearby, said the developers had admitted during consultation that they “can’t afford to only build 195 flats on that site”.
“It needs to be a much larger development or it is not financially worthwhile,” he added. Members said they aren’t against the landowners building on the car park, but want the gym to be retained.
Redevco would be expected to pay over £247,000 as the scheme does not meet the requirements for amenity space, children’s play and outdoor sport.
Mr Johnson said the Anderston/City/Yorkhill ward, which includes Finnieston, has the “the lowest amount of green space per head of population than any other area of Glasgow and despite that more and more people are being offered flats to move into”.
The members say the gym, which has charitable status, provides a swimming pool, used by schoolchildren, a climbing wall and creche.
It allows GP referrals and is “actively engaging with 11 to 16 year old girls because that’s a part of the demographic that aren’t training”, Mr Trotter said. “It’s a community space, more than a gym.”
Julie Fitzpatrick said: “One thing the developer claims to do as part of their whole value is to breathe life into communities, where actually what they are doing here is they are removing life from a Glasgow community.
“They could leave a legacy here of enhancing this area, they could still build something and actually make more of this space. Instead they are going to destroy a community of Glaswegian people.”
Yolander Yeo said: “I don’t understand the vision because we’ve got this amazing space that will serve all the new buildings around here.
“There’s going to be more people, they can all come here for their health and wellbeing.”
In a report to councillors, planners said it is understood, although not confirmed, that Nuffield Health memberships would be transferred to the nearby Finnieston Street gym.
It added the Nuffield Health website shows that gym “contains a similar, albeit not entirely like-for-like, range of facilities to Minerva Way”. However, members say the other Nuffield Health gym has a “smaller capacity” and other facilities nearby aren’t comparable.
Planners expect the “market will respond accordingly to additional demand for health and fitness facilities should the application site close”. They also said the existing permission for the site could still be implemented until July this year.
Plans include a gym for residents, a library, lounge areas, bike stores, roof gardens and a central courtyard. A children’s play area and car parking for 37 vehicles are also proposed.
Redevco’s application stated the project will “contribute towards the supply of much needed housing” within a “highly accessible, sustainable urban location”.
It added: “The approach to design, scale and mass is appropriate to its setting and will not result in an unacceptable impact in terms of the quality and character of nearby conservation areas or the setting of nearby listed buildings.
“The approach to provision of public realm and open space will contribute to a significant improvement in the quality of local public spaces and visual amenity.”
The firm has been approached for comment.
