Scotland Planning: Radisson Appeal, McCoist Dispute, Wind Farm Approvals (Scotland, 2026)

Key Points

• Radisson Hotel Refusal Upheld: A Scottish Government planning reporter has upheld Glasgow City Council’s refusal of a £45 million, 19-storey Radisson Apart Hotel development on Maxwell Street.
• Loss of B-Listed Printworks: The rejected application by Regent Property involved the complete demolition of the derelict B-listed former McCorquodale’s Printers building, which had been on the market for £1 for over 18 months without alternative interest.
• Ally McCoist Wins Tree Dispute: Scottish Government reporter Simon Bonsall dismissed an appeal by retired pilot Alan Tyers against Rangers legend Ally McCoist regarding two 90ft sycamore trees in Bridge of Weir.
• Statutory High Hedge Ruling: The reporter ruled that McCoist’s two mature sycamores do not meet the legal definition of a “high hedge” under the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013.
• Offshore Wind Approvals: The Scottish Government has granted offshore consent and marine licences for Ocean Winds’ 2GW Caledonia offshore wind project in the Moray Firth, capable of powering two million homes.
• Multibillion-Pound Investment: Ocean Winds has committed £1.7 billion to Scottish supply chains, with construction expected to begin by 2030 following statutory approvals.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) July 24, 2026 – Scottish ministers and independent government reporters have issued three landmark planning determinations across the nation, rejecting a £45 million uk/local/city-centre/">city centre hotel development in Glasgow, dismissing a high-profile hedge dispute involving football commentator Ally McCoist in Renfrewshire, and granting offshore consent for a massive 2 gigawatt wind farm in the Moray Firth.

Why Was the £45 Million Radisson Hotel Appeal Rejected in Glasgow?

As reported by Sarah Hilley of the Local Democracy Reporting Service and STV News, Glasgow City Council originally voted 5–4 to refuse planning permission for a 19-storey Radisson Apart Hotel on Maxwell Street. The ambitious scheme, proposed by applicant Regent Property, sought to demolish the derelict B-listed former McCorquodale’s Printers building alongside an adjacent unlisted structure to construct a 236-room complex featuring 159 hotel rooms, 77 serviced apartments, and a rooftop bar.

The site had previously been offered on the market for £1 for over 18 months without securing any alternative development proposals. As reported by Sarah Hilley of STV News, Jay Singh of Regent Property told the local authority’s planning committee that

“these buildings were on the market for over 18 months at a price point of £1 but nobody came forward. It is, unfortunately, the dilemma we are all in in Glasgow with these old buildings that are really struggling”.

Furthermore, chartered surveyor Dr John Boyle stated during proceedings that

“because of the viability issues there is no other developer waiting in the wings here and the site has been extensively marketed… The Radisson option appears to be the only one on the table”.

Despite arguments that the project would generate 230 construction jobs, create 75 permanent roles, and regenerate a street afflicted by anti-social behaviour near the St Enoch Centre, council members remained divided. As reported by STV News, committee chair Councillor Ken Andrew stated when rejecting the initial bid:

“I have a lot of sympathy with both sides of this argument… I am persuaded that it looks as though this building is not able to be saved in any economic way… [but] I think the design presented to us looks to me to be overly large and overbearing. I’m concerned about the proximity to other buildings – it is a narrow street and narrow pavement”.

Regent Property subsequently appealed the refusal to the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA).

As reported by The Herald Scotland and Scottish Construction Now, independent planning reporter Susannah Moore formally upheld the council’s refusal. In her decision notice, Moore acknowledged that while the principle of a hotel was “generally acceptable” and that there was “justification for the demolition of the listed and unlisted buildings on site,” the physical form of the proposal was unacceptable. Moore concluded that the

“proposed design, by reason of the building’s massing, scale and height, fails to respond sensitively to the streetscape… and would result in harm to the character and appearance of the central conservation area and the setting of nearby listed buildings”.

How Did Ally McCoist Win His High-Hedge Planning Battle in Renfrewshire?

As reported by Jack Thomson of the Local Democracy Reporting Service and STV News, former Rangers and Scotland football star Ally McCoist has secured a final ruling in a neighbour dispute regarding two 90ft (27-metre) sycamore trees located on his property in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire.

The dispute was initiated by McCoist’s neighbour, retired British Airways pilot Alan Tyers, who submitted an application under the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 to force the lopping of the trees.

As reported by Alasdair Ferguson of The National, Tyers argued that the sycamores blocked light from his C-listed home, darkened his rear hallway, and created safety hazards during storm events. In his submission to planners, Tyers stated:

“These are fast-growing, very old sycamores which, combined with increased storm activity and high wind events over recent years in line with climate change, have meant that the problem has increased year on year. I am now living with the real fear and risk of tree collapse onto my house… During storms, the upstairs rooms to that side of the house overshadowed by the trees are unusable”.

Renfrewshire Council initially rejected Tyers’ request for a High Hedge Notice in April, ruling that the trees did not adversely affect the reasonable enjoyment of the neighbouring property. Tyers subsequently appealed to Scottish ministers.

As reported by STV News, Ally McCoist maintained throughout the process that the trees did not legally constitute a hedge. In a formal representation, McCoist stated:

“These are two mature, deciduous trees standing over six metres apart. They are not managed as a hedge and do not resemble what would ordinarily be understood to be a hedge… Their spacing, character and management are inconsistent with hedge planting as described in the guidance. It is respectfully submitted that the trees do not fall within the statutory definition of a ‘high hedge’ at all”.

Following a physical site inspection on July 10, Scottish Government reporter Simon Bonsall dismissed the appeal. As reported by the Glasgow Times and STV News, Bonsall wrote in his official decision notice:

“I have carefully considered this case. I acknowledge the concerns of the appellant regarding the barrier to light within his property and safety during storms… However, as I have found the trees do not constitute a hedge, I am not required to consider the grounds of appeal further. I therefore must dismiss the appeal”.

Why Did the Scottish Government Approve the 2GW Caledonia Offshore Wind Project?

As reported by Bojan Lepic of Splash247 and the PA News Agency, the Scottish Government has formally granted offshore consents and marine licences for Ocean Winds’ Caledonia offshore wind project.

Located approximately 40 kilometres off the coast of Aberdeenshire in the Moray Firth, the Caledonia development comprises the Caledonia North and Caledonia South offshore wind farms.

The project will encompass up to 140 turbines across 429 square kilometres and is designed to generate up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of clean electricity—enough to power roughly two million homes. Ocean Winds, a 50/50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and Engie, has committed to investing £1.7 billion into the Scottish economy during the project’s lifetime.

As reported by PA News Agency, First Minister John Swinney welcomed the decision, stating:

“This consent decision is a significant step in Scotland’s progress towards tackling climate change and reaching net zero, which is a key priority for the Scottish Government. It is also an important decision for Scotland’s renewables sector… We will continue to work closely with the developer and key stakeholders, including those working in fishing and conservation, to minimise impacts on the marine environment”.

As reported by Splash247, Mark Baxter, Caledonia Project Director, expressed enthusiasm following the decision: “At 2GW, Caledonia will double the energy generation of the Moray Firth, supporting the UK’s aim of bolstering energy security, decarbonising the power system and transitioning jobs.

The Scottish Government’s decision to grant consent is greatly welcomed and allows us to press ahead with this exciting project”. Ocean Winds expects offshore construction to commence in 2030, pending future Contract for Difference (CfD) auction rounds and final investment decisions.

What Is the Background Behind These Major Scottish Planning Decisions?

The statutory framework governing planning in Scotland operates under a dual-tier structure comprising local authority planning departments and the central Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA).

In urban built environment cases, such as Glasgow’s Maxwell Street site, developers must navigate National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which places stringent protections on listed heritage assets and conservation areas.

The former McCorquodale’s Printers building represents a typical structural dilemma within historic Scottish city centres, where historic stone facades rendered in dense cement degrade over decades, rendering structural conservation economically unviable for developers.

In private residential boundary disputes, the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 was introduced to provide householders with a legal remedy against intrusive vegetation.

However, the legal threshold requires a barrier to light caused by a continuous row of two or more trees or shrubs reaching a height over two metres. Independent government reporters strictly interpret these statutory bounds to prevent standard tree conservation disputes from incorrectly utilizing hedge legislation.

In energy infrastructure, major offshore generation schemes exceeding 50 megawatts (MW) require direct approval from Scottish Ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and Marine Scotland licensing regimes.

Ocean Winds’ Caledonia project represents part of the ScotWind leasing round managed by Crown Estate Scotland, designed to transition North Sea maritime expertise toward renewable energy production.

Explore More Local Glasgow News

Glasgow Great Western Road Westbound Closed After Crash Glasgow 2026

ScotRail Adds Capacity for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games – Glasgow 2026

How Will These Developments Affect Developers, Residents, and Energy Markets?

These three binding decisions carry distinct regulatory implications for property developers, local homeowners, and energy sector investors across Scotland.

• For Property Developers and Urban Planners: The rejection of the Maxwell Street Radisson proposal signals that heritage protections under NPF4 remain paramount, even when faced with derelict urban sites lacking alternative investment. Developers seeking to construct tall buildings within conservation areas must prioritize streetscape proportion and architectural integration, as site viability arguments alone will not override scale and massing concerns.
• For Homeowners and Landowners: The dismissal of the appeal against Ally McCoist reinforces a clear legal boundary surrounding tree disputes. Property owners cannot use the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 to force the pruning of isolated or widely spaced mature trees, regardless of their height or storm proximity. Neighbours facing light restrictions from non-hedge trees must rely on common law rights or civil negotiations rather than statutory council intervention.
• For Energy Infrastructure and Local Economies: The ministerial consent for the 2GW Caledonia wind farm provides substantial long-term certainty for the Scottish offshore supply chain. The project is set to create over 200 skilled operational roles alongside thousands of supply chain opportunities, bolstering energy grid decarbonization and solidifying the Moray Firth as a major hub for European offshore wind generation.