Glasgow city centre student flats approved to replace former office block

Offices in Glasgow city centre are set to be turned into student accommodation.

Planners at Glasgow City Council have approved an application which will include the partial demolition of a building on Cadogan Street.

Over 250 student beds will be made available across the 14-storey block. Plans stated the owners believe the existing seven-storey building “underutilises an important city centre site”.

The application added that the building, constructed in 1989, would need “considerable investment to improve the energy performance of both the external envelope and mechanical/electrical plant in line with modern occupier sustainability requirements”.

It stated the “cost of such upgrades are not balanced by prevailing market conditions and rental values in Glasgow”.

A 14-storey development, retaining the “substructure and perimeter walls” of the existing building, was proposed.

Student flats planned for Cadogan Street LDRS

Development management firm Bankfoot APAM was commissioned by Guernsey-based NPV Glasgow Ltd to take forward the project.

The owners believe there is “an opportunity to both optimise the use of the site and to improve the character and quality of the site and its setting”, a design statement added.

Their plan includes 259 student bedrooms, mainly single-person studios, as well as social spaces and roof gardens. Plans described the proposal as a “sustainable economic development” which delivers on the council’s objective to increase city centre living.

Chris Moore, managing director at Bankfoot APAM, previously said the firm had “worked closely and collaboratively with Glasgow City Council and other stakeholders”.

He said that work had helped “shape a scheme we believe will make a positive and lasting contribution to the city centre”.

“This development will transform an underperforming site into a high-quality, sustainable addition to Glasgow’s business district, creating new energy and activity while delivering a modern student living environment that supports the continued evolution of the city centre.”

Work is expected to start on site later this year.