Noah Developments wanted to build 40 flats across two blocks of five floors at the Mount Florida Bowling Club site on Carmunnock Road.

The flats are designed by jmarchitects to be in two residential blocks, each with five floors. Ten three-bed duplexes were proposed plus six one-bedroom apartments and 24 two-bed apartments.

A large area of publicly-accessible green space was to be provided, the details of which would be drawn up after public consultation.

Glasgow City Council’s planning applications committee rejected the proposal in November, despite being recommended for approval by planning officials, after concerns were raised over the loss of community amenity and the design not being in keeping with the area.

Now the Scottish Government’s planning appeals division has upheld the local authority’s decision.

Government-appointed planning reporter Sue Bell stated: “Whilst I acknowledge the appellant’s desire to produce a design with its own unique qualities…I find that the design, scale, massing and choice of materials would result in a proposal that would appear out of character with its surroundings.”

Her report continued: “Whilst the proposals would result in the creation of an alternative community facility… they would also result in a loss of approximately half the area of the existing community facility.

“The question is whether the value that would be gained from public access to half of the appeal site is sufficient to outweigh the permanent potential community use of the whole site.”

The reporter added: “I find that the absence of evidence of any attempts to attract other community uses for which the premises are suitable, or evidence of engagement or assessment that the facilities were not needed for other community or recreational use results in the proposal failing to fully satisfy the criteria [in city planning policies].”

A proposal by local campaigners Mount Florida Community Trust to turn the site into a community sports and leisure facility, which had attracted around 160 letters of support, was previously approved by the planning committee.

The reporter said: “I am aware that there are alternative proposals for the site. Other than to acknowledge that these are evidence of the value placed on the site by members of the local community, these proposals have not formed any part of my considerations.

“The purpose of this appeal is to consider the acceptability of the proposals that are before me and not to mediate between different proposals for the site.”