Reasons to Object

Protected Green Belt is being removed without due process

All four sites are currently designated Green Belt in the adopted plan and in Supporting Guidance 6, approved as recently as 2024, which restates a strong presumption against green belt development and a brownfield-first approach. The Council’s own Green Belt Review found that this area contributes to NPF4 outcomes, with no part judged less useful and no finding that the area is excessive. The sites are not described or assessed as a formal green belt release, so the proper test has not been applied. Removing these sites for development would also leave a pocket of green belt stranded to the north of Simshill Road.

The proposal conflicts with NPF4

We have worked through the ‘National Planning Framework 4’ policy by policy and found conflict: with the aims of compact growth and limiting urban expansion, biodiversity protection and enhancement under Policies 2, 3 and 4, woodland under Policy 6, the green belt tests under Policy 8, the duty to seek disabled people’s views under Policy 13, and 20-minute neighbourhoods under Policy 15, where the sites score RED on community facilities, health, public transport and active travel.

Community Interest and Consultation has been ignored

The sites were identified as community assets under the ‘People make Glasgow’ process. There have been several interested parties seeking to re-open the golf course, re-open the pavilion building, and extend the Local Nature Reserve designation across the whole area. None of these interested parties were consulted in the preparation of the proposed development plan.

There is no housing need to justify the release

The evidence gathering for the Development Plan does not identify a housing need in Linn Ward. The Local Housing Land Requirement of 22,569 already includes 25% flexibility, and the deliverable pipeline indicated in the proposed Development Plan provides over 31,000 homes, well beyond what is required. With brownfield and compact growth as stated priorities, releasing green belt here is unnecessary.

Other protective designations have not been reviewed

The sites also carry a ‘Site of Special Landscape Importance’ designation and ‘Open Space and Sports Area’ protections. There is no evidence the Site of Special Landscape Importance has been reviewed, or found to no longer apply. Open space should not be released until assessed as redundant through the Open Space Strategy process. The course has been closed since COVID, but no such redundancy assessment has been carried out.

Green space and public access would be lost

Beyond the loss of green belt and open space, the development proposal removes the only public toilet serving the park and golf course. The car park provides access to Linn Park Local Nature Reserve, always has served the park and golf course. Access for disabled people has not been assessed.

The site descriptions are inaccurate or incomplete

The descriptions omit the Green Belt and landscape designations, mislabel land to the east as open space when it is green belt, and imply the clubhouse is a standalone brownfield site. The appraisal scores are mostly Red and Amber with a net-negative environmental assessment, but these only partly surface in the proposal document.

Process and consultation failures

The sites were not shared with the community council or ward councillors before inclusion, recorded community interest in the course and clubhouse has been ignored, and there was no consultation with Friends of Linn Park on the green belt release, tree planting or cemetery proposals.

Protect Linn Park

Glasgow City Council wants to allow housebuilding on the Linn Park golf course

This site is Green Belt. Building on Green Belt should be a last resort — used only when every other option has been exhausted. The Council has other options – Glasgow only needs to build around 20,000 homes. This plan proposes land for 30,000 homes. Linn Park isn’t needed to meet the Council’s target.

Linn Park matters. For generations it’s been used and loved by local people — walking, running, golf, dog walking, and simply enjoying green space close to home. Once it’s built on, it’s gone for ever.

How to Object

The consultation is open now — you have until 18 November to object.
Object on the Council’s consultation page. The Council’s information is spread across several documents on their information hub, which can be hard to navigate — our briefing note shows the key points.

You make a separate representation for each site. The site references are CfS240538 (the Golf Couse), CfS250036 (clubhouse ), CfS250037 (Car Park). They also plan to remove land from the park for the cemetery this is Policy 16. These pages show you how to object for each site/policy: CfS240538 , CfS250036 , CfS250037, Policy 16. For the sites, you are asking for the sites to be deleted from the plan , and for the cemetery expansion, ask for deletion of the reference to Linn Park Cemetery expansion.

Give your reasons — in your own words. Here are some examples :

• This is Green Belt land, and building on Green Belt should always be a last resort
• The Council’s plan already proposes far more land for housing than Glasgow actually needs
• This site is used every day — for walking, running, golf, dog-walking, and enjoying green space.
• Once this land is built on, it’s gone permanently — there’s no getting it back. It’s the thin end of the wedge.

Add anything personal: how long you’ve used the park, a specific memory, why it matters to you

Join the campaign
We’re a group of local residents working to protect Linn Park — join us at 11 a.m.on Tuesdays and Staurdays at the White Bridge and the Clubhouse.

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