Student accommodation fever hits Glasgow city centre

Student accommodation fever hits Glasgow city centre

Varsity Developments' plan for Waterloo Street

A number of student accommodation developments are being planned across Glasgow as developers seek to fill the evident shortage of availability in the city.

Varsity Developments has submitted plans for a high-rise student tower on Waterloo Street, having previously mooted proposals for rental apartments and offices at the site.

According to the application, the work would entail the full demolition of a tenement at 70-72A Waterloo Street and partial demolition of the B-listed Distillers’ Building at number 64.



Elsewhere, Dominus has itself made the switch to student housing with early proposals for a site in St Enoch East.

Student accommodation fever hits Glasgow city centre

Plans by Dominus in St Enoch

Working with architect TP Bennett, the developer aims to bring life to the junction of Old Wynd Street and Osborne Street

Urban Innovations had previously secured planning permission for a hotel at the site.



In a statement, the applicant wrote: “… we previously secured planning permission at this site in 2019. That was for a proposed hotel. We recognise that the needs of the city have changed since then, as has our own business. We are now proposing professionally managed purpose-built student accommodation.”

A planning application is expected to be lodged in October.

Another site previously destined to deliver a hotel is the high-profile 109 West Nile Street development plot.

Tiger Developments and Host Student Housing are bringing forward proposals for a high-rise block, possibly with a restaurant/cafe and gym.



The site, at the corner of Bath Street, formerly housed a Blue Lagoon chippy, O Sole Mio restaurant and the Iron Horse Bar.

Student accommodation fever hits Glasgow city centre

109 West Nile Street

The developers have started public consultation and state on their website: “Following grant of planning permission for hotel use on the site, there has been a lack of developer interest in delivering a hotel in this location.

“The applicants therefore propose to seek planning permission for a different use, which will result in the return to active use of the site, providing much needed accommodation for students attending Glasgow’s higher and further education establishments.



“Proposals for the redevelopment of the site are currently evolving, with the intention that these will be of high quality design and appearance.”

The developers added: “A Student Need and Demand Assessment was prepared by Cushman and Wakefield in support of these proposals which provides evidence that the under-supply of student accommodation is acute.

“The Need and Assessment found that in 2021/22, there were 25,752 students who were in need of a bed but unable to access one. The site offers significant opportunity given the wider demand-supply dynamics in Glasgow.

“The excellent location of the proposed development means that the scheme is likely to prove an attractive prospect to students seeking a good-quality student experience.”

Student accommodation fever hits Glasgow city centre

Plans for Broadway Two by Cooper Cromar

Finally, Cooper Cromar has submitted plans for 432 purpose-built student flats to complete its Broadway Central development on Renfield Street.

Led by McAleer & Rushe Property, the L-shaped Broadway Two will join the recently completed office block and hotel in phase one.

In a consultation statement, the architects wrote: “The ‘L’ shaped form mirrors the adjacent building and allows a courtyard to complete the square central to the grid on Renfield Street. This square allows for additional ground floor external amenities.

“The form on the roof is set back from the rest of the building, allowing it to gently rise without imposing on the surrounding buildings. This also creates additional external amenities at roof level.

“The stepped façade helps to break the mass and contributes to the creation of a lively streetscape/future town square amenity space on the ground level activates the frontage at street level.”

Construction is expected to start early next year for completion by 2026.

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