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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Holly Lennon

Glasgow skyscraper plans to create 750 student homes beside M8 at Charing Cross

A new skyscraper could be built beside the M8 as part of plans to create student accommodation for more than 750.

Watkins Jones Group has put forward plans to demolish Portcullis House on India Street, to create hundreds of student homes.

Plans were previously drawn up for a 30-storey, build-to-rent, and co-living complex but Glasgow City Council has yet to make a determination on the proposal.

Read more: Glasgow pub closes early after 'bar fight as punter injured in crossfire'

Developers have said that the latest plan will have a smaller footprint and will allow for more public space while addressing a 'significant undersupply of student homes'.

The plans outline: “This exciting proposal will incorporate a flexible commercial element, which will include a publicly accessible cafe and could also include co-working/multi-use space for local groups and organisations. In addition to this, high-quality public realm will be delivered.

“Such a development will act as a catalyst for regeneration and is being proposed by a developer with an exceptional delivery record and who has explored a number uses for the building.

The building will be 30-storeys high (Watkins Jones Group)

“These proposals will serve to address a significant undersupply of student homes in a city which has experienced 24 per cent growth in numbers between 2014 and 2021, putting considerable pressure on limited private rented stock.”

It explains: “Due to a lack of policy or guidance from the council upon which planning applications for co-living could be assessed, the existing planning application has been placed on hold.

“Watkins Jones subsequently looked to explore opportunities to integrate student homes into the proposals, replacing the co-living element and assisting in addressing an unprecedented demand for student homes. The intent was to proceed with a mixed BTR/student scheme.

“Some amendments have been made to the building design and form, as desired by planning and design officers at the council. These included reducing the scale of the footprint, increasing public realm and landscaping, and allowing greater amenity to be provided.

“This has reduced the size of the BTR element to one which would be too small for institutional forward funding and hence the decision to progress with a policy compliant purpose-built student accommodation scheme.”

A second public consultation on the development is due to take place in May.

A formal application is yet to be submitted to Glasgow City Council.

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