Gartloch Hospital: Villa to North, Gartloch Road, Gartloch

One of a number of asylum buildings in French Renaissance style with Scottish Baronial details in red sandstone. 3-storey, 13-bay, "villa". Base course, stringcourse at 1st and 2nd floor cill level. 3rd floor windows breaking eaves with mannered pedimented dormerheads with finials (eaves cornice forming transom). PRINCIPAL ELEVATION: 3-bay, slightly advanced entrance bay, channelled at ground. Doorway set in distyle portico with banded columns. Bay terminated by twin pilasters capped by finials above blind balustraded parapet; superimposed pediment with central oculus, wide stringcourse above lintels, moulded at 1st and 2nd floors, single transomed windows. Flanked by 5 bays with 4 light canted bay at centre ground with ashlar mullions and transoms. Formerly linked together by corridors.

The complex was built as the City of Glasgow District Asylum for pauper lunatics. Thomson and Sandilands won the competition for the design in 1889 and it was constructed between 1892-6. The important feature which was introduced at Gartloch for the first time in a new asylum in Scotland was the provision of an independent "hospital" section, distinct from the asylum section. This was for the treatment of medical cases, including infectious diseases. It included its own kitchen and dining hall. Another important feature of the hospital in the asylum section is the patient accommodation blocks which are in the form of "villas" linked to the service block and administration offices by enclosed link corridors. The link corridors were omitted in later asylums to create a true colony plan. The plan of Gartloch was highly influential in Britain and is still in an excellent state of preservation. An innovative feature of the hospital section was the U-plan front block with central administration offices flanked by observation and admission wards. This feature was adapted from the infectious diseases hospitals and was reproduced in later district asylums and the early mental deficiency hospitals. The other innovative feature in the hospital section is its kitchen and dining hall which made it entirely independent from the main asylum. The nurses home designed in 1898 (though dated 1895), was added to S of asylum complex and opened in 1900 to provide 60 beds for nursing staff, it closely resembles the villas in the asylum section (ref: Historic Scotland)

2 April 1991: The Scotsman reports that the hospital is theatened with closure. August 1994: The Greater Glasgow Health Board reports that the hospital is being advertised for sale and a marketing brief has been prepared. A feasibility study by McGurn, Logan Duncan and Opfer has concluded that the principal land use should be residential. July 1996: The last hospital buildings are vacated. 31 March 1997: The Herald reports that the site was rejected by several developers due to its location, though a developer has now stepped forward. Rosehazel Ltd will apply for Planning Permission later this month. Profits from any new-build or subsequent land sale will be shared with the Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services Trust. 15 May 1997: The Glaswegian reports that Rosehazel hopes to convert the asylum block into 100 flats, with 250 houses built in the grounds. February 1998: Permissions are granted for the residential conversion of the listed hospital buildings, except for that of the new nurses' home. October 1999: Local planners report that a masterplan has been prepared for the entire site. 4 July 2001: The Glasgow Evening Times reports that Bellway Homes has applied to built 372 houses and 93 flats on the hospital site. The new nurses' home will be converted into luxury apartments with a roof terrace. Bishop Homes already has Planning Permission to convert most of the other buildings. The Greater Easterhouse Partnership has welcomed the plans as a boost to the local economy, although they will need to be agreed by Historic Scotland. 28 March 2003: The Glasgow East News reports that the new nurses' home is now threatened with demolition. 11 April 2003: The Glasgow East News reports that local residents have expressed concern at the fate of the buildings. Persimmon Homes may be interested in building 300 new flats on the site. December 2007: External inspection reveals the entire site is under redevelopment as "Gartoch Village". The Asylum block has been split into eight buildings by the removal of the interlinking sections. Four have already been converted into residential use. The central, towered section (formerly known as the Official Block and now as Caird House) and the North block (now Tolands House) are scheduled for conversion with an expected completion date of 2009. They are currently roofed shells. The rear section (now Stewart House) and the northeast section (now MacMurray House) remain empty with no timetable for conversion.

January 2009: External inspection finds that the building remains disused. It is boarded up to the front. To the rear, almost all the windows are broken.

January 2011: External inspection finds the building remains derelict. The roof is deteriorating with the loss of slates. Most windows remain boarded up but others are now open. The walls are very damp. Plant growth was cleared from the buildings in September 2010. The owners are thought to be planning to convert this building into flats during 2011.

5 January 2013: A member of the public advises the building remains much the same as the previous site visit.

20 November 2013: Local planners report the site remains At Risk.

26 March 2014: External inspection finds the building remains in poor condition. Broken windows are unsecured, holes are evident in roof pitches and there is significant dampness to walls.

26 October 2015: Local planners advise consent for restoration and conversion to 12 flats is being sought ref: 15/01838/DC.

6 June 2019: Consent is being sought for the renewal of permission (15/01839/DC conditionally granted Apr 2016) for conversion to 12 flats (19/01088/FUL).

1 July 2019: An extension to 15/01839/DC (full planning permission subject to conditions) for conversion of former hospital building to form 12 flatted properties and associated works was granted (19/01088/FUL).

2 July 2019: A member of the public notes permission to extend previously approved consent for redevelopment (recorded previously) has been granted conditionally.

26 July 2019: Local planners note application for conversion of the building into residential use is being sought (19/01088/FUL).

24 January 2022: A member of the public contacts BARR to advise construction works have commenced in line with consents granted in 2019. Moved to Restoration in Progress.

17 March 2023: Consent being sought for internal and external alterations associated with use as flatted dwellings (23/00467/LBA)

30 August 2023: Desk-based assessment suggests the building remains under restoration and conversion to flats. Supporting information submitted with Listed Building Consent (23/00467/LBA) for internal and external alterations (conditionally approved Apr 2023) notes works to stabilise the structure have been ongoing and once completed, conversion works will commence.