Homeless Project Scotland have been operating a shelter in Glasgow. 

A homeless charity must “cease unauthorised use of the building” it operates from due to not having the correct planning permission, a city council has said. 

Glasgow City Council has issued Homeless Project Scotland (HPS) with a notice to stop using its premises at 67 Glassford Street as a shelter as no planning application has been submitted for change of use. 

The notice, set to take effect on October 18, covers the Glassford Street site which has been in use by HPS since December 2023 - with a soup kitchen, advice surgeries and an overnight shelter operating from the site. 

Both HPS and the building’s owner have now been cited by the council - with a spokesperson telling the Glasgow Times it remains open to the charity submitting an application for change of use.  

The council added that there has been a "lack of engagement" from the property owner, with “no evidence to show the site complies with Care Inspectorate National Standards”.

The spokesperson told the newspaper: “The occupants have not submitted a planning application for change of use despite efforts to encourage them to do so.  

"There has also been a lack of engagement from the property owner. 

"Therefore, there has been no opportunity to scrutinise how the building is operated to ensure that it is safe, well managed and satisfies the relevant policies.  

"There has also been no evidence provided to show that it complies with Care Inspectorate National Standards.  

"There have been multiple crime reports and complaints linked to these premises since it began to be used as unauthorised homeless shelter in December 2023. 

"Based on the available evidence, fears from residents and businesses that the unauthorised use of the building is directly contributing to anti-social behaviour and crime in the area appear to be well founded. 

"To protect the safety and well-being of the community and given the lack of engagement from the occupants to progress with a planning application, we believe it is necessary to take action to cease the unauthorised use of these premises.   

"It remains open for the occupants to submit a planning application for assessment through the usual process."

HPS have hit out at the council for the “appalling” move, which they say they will be appealing. 

He told the Glasgow Times: "The council has issued the charity with a notice to close the night shelter. 

"We will be appealing this decision. 

"The reason is we have not applied for planning permission for a change of use to allow people to be staying overnight. Unfortunately, you cannot plan for a housing emergency. 

"We have architects working on it and putting together the application and the council know that but still, they want to shut us down. 

"Glasgow was able to come together and open the Louisa Jordan Hospital during Covid emergency but not to allow a lifeline shelter for homeless people. 

"On the one hand, Glasgow has a declared housing emergency, and the council can’t cope with the number of homeless people. 

"But on the other hand, they want to shut down an emergency shelter that is providing somewhere safe for people to stay. 

"These are people who have been refused accommodation by the council and without our shelter would be on the streets and could face death. 

"It is appalling."