Sanctuary Housing is building more than 400 flats on the site of the old Victoria Infirmary in Battlefield on the city’s Southside. The developer acquired the 9.5-acre site in 2016 with plans to convert the former hospital into 413 residential homes and 11 commercial units, as well as 43 social rent homes and 61 mid-market properties.
Earlier this week, Niall Murphy, director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, warned that the gatehouse to the Victoria Infirmary at Queen’s Park had fallen into serious disrepair. Since then, public outcry over the protection of the building has grown, with many urging the developer to save the piece of the south side’s built heritage.
A spokesperson for Sanctuary confirmed that the structure would be demolished. They said: “We are fully committed to respecting the heritage of the former Victoria Infirmary site; however, a detailed structural assessment confirmed that the gatehouse is beyond viable repair and presents a significant health and safety risk.”
Sanctuary Housing’s controversial Victoria Infirmary development. (Image: Newsquest)
Now, locals are calling for Sanctuary to look for alternative solutions to save the building, citing similar derelict structures in the city that have had positive outcomes.
Mr Murphy said: “It’s disappointing to hear that the gatehouse at the Victoria Infirmary is to be demolished. This charming wee building was designed by the important Victorian architectural practice of Campbell Douglas and Sellars, who won the competition to design the new hospital in 1889.”
He explained that the gatehouse forms an ensemble with the neighbouring ‘B’ listed Administration Block. As the Victoria Infirmary was a voluntary hospital, it was built by donations from those living in the Southside of Glasgow and was intended to last.
In the consented masterplan, the gatehouse was meant to mark both the pedestrian and vehicular entrances from Langside Road into ‘The Victoria’ residential development.
It would have served as the focal point at the end of the long series of ramps and stairs, which allow pedestrians to climb up through the site on their journey to Queens Park.
I’m concerned to see the poor condition of the gatehouse to the Victoria Infirmary at Glasgow’s Queen’s Park. If you look at the photographs you can see the large hole in the stonework of the north gable so I suspect the beam holding it up may have collapsed.
It’s a charming… pic.twitter.com/51ZdTKforg
— Niall Murphy (@MurphyNiallGLA) November 24, 2025
Mr Murphy said: “The gatehouse has been in the ownership of Sanctuary Housing Association for the best part of the decade. Rather than being left vacant during that time, perhaps it could have been used as a site office or a sales hub to buy it time?
“What is particularly frustrating is that there is current interest in reusing redundant janitor’s houses in Glasgow. The recent reuse of the janitor’s house at the nearby Holyrood Secondary School is a successful exemplar.
“Glasgow City Heritage Trust have recently funded feasibility studies led by Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, which explore the viability of the conversion of three derelict janitor’s houses back into residential use. The idea is to help address Glasgow’s Housing Emergency.
“Perhaps that would have been a better outcome than yet another expedient demolition which chips away at the heritage of Glasgow’s Southside?”
Following Sanctuary’s total demolition of the 133-year-old sandstone cupolas on James Sellars’ 1888 Nightingale ward block in 2022, MSP Paul Sweeney said it was “disappointing” to see how much of the originally approved preservation plan for the Victoria Infirmary development had been scaled back over the years.
The Scottish Labour politician said: “At the very least, the decorative cupolas could have been dismantled and rebuilt at ground level as landscape features.”
He added: “As a gesture of goodwill, and to demonstrate that all alternative options have been exhausted, I would like Sanctuary to market the building to any restoring purchasers who might be willing to take the building on and restore it to an active use, such as a retail or café unit, subject to relevant consents and demonstration of financial capacity to renovate it. There are plenty of good examples in Glasgow.
“This would be a positive and proactive initiative that I am sure would elicit creative ideas for the building, and I would be more than happy to energetically support such an initiative.
“I hope that Sanctuary will pause the planned demolition of the gatehouse to consider this proposal and support an interim marketing effort for the building before it is destroyed forever.”
A spokesperson for Sanctuary said: “We are fully committed to respecting the heritage of the former Victoria Infirmary site; however, a detailed structural assessment confirmed that the gatehouse is beyond viable repair and presents a significant health and safety risk.
“Having explored all feasible options to retain the gatehouse, but with no safe or practical way to preserve the structure, its removal is the only responsible course of action, which was approved by Glasgow City Council.
“As we move forward, Sanctuary remains committed to delivering much-needed, high-quality homes for the community, while ensuring the historic character of the wider site continues to be protected and celebrated.”
Marissa MacWhirter is a columnist and feature writer at The Herald, and the editor of The Glasgow Wrap. The newsletter is curated between 5-7am each morning, bringing the best of local news to your inbox each morning without ads, clickbait, or hyperbole. Oh, and it’s free. She can be found on X @marissaamayy1
