Purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) specialist Alumno has applied to Glasgow City Council for permission to build Woodlands House, a six-storey development on St George’s Road in the Woodlands district.
Alumno’s proposal will provide much needed PSBA in a city that has the third largest student population in the UK.
The proposed building will accommodate 262 students, comprising a range of single ensuite bedrooms with shared kitchens and self-sufficient studio rooms.
The Woodlands House development will also include a level of accessible rooms for those with additional needs.
Student communal spaces will be provided for residents including a private dining room, lounge and common study space on the fifth floor.
An entrance and reception area will be located on the ground floor, along with laundry facilities.
“In providing much needed high-quality accommodation for Glasgow students, our overarching intention is to respect the diverse community of Woodlands and St Georges Cross and reconnect and repair the missing corner of St George’s Road, while reinforcing the character of the area and re-introducing the frontages at street level.”
David Campbell, Managing Director (MD), Alumno
The development will also restore commercial units to the current vacant site, providing opportunities to local businesses.
Meanwhile, external landscaping will enhance the surrounding area for residents and the local community.
Having partnered with Alumno on several pre-existing PBSA schemes across the UK, the proposed development will be designed by Carson & Partners.
The two companies have worked alongside each other in Glasgow in the past, for the Hyndland House project.
On preparing the application, Alumno has considered the Glasgow City Development Plan’s recommendations, particularly with respect to placemaking and sustainability.
The site is located nearby and will pay respect to the Woodlands Conservation Area, a historic environment that the council aims to protect, preserve, conserve and enhance.
“The plan, elevation and massing treatments follow a rational approach, in response to existing datums, materiality, proportion and local architectural characteristics. The extruded celebration of the corner incorporating a roof top communal living room and articulation of the facade along Grant Street are both familiar local west end terrace features. At ground level a transparent dual aspect reception will physically and visually connect one of two landscaped courtyards to the street while its adjoining retail space will once again help to reanimate and reinstate vibrancy to this significant part of St Georges Road.”
Iain Carson, Carson & Partners
Alumno’s proposal takes this into account, pledging to ensure the scale, design, and landscaping of the proposed development will minimise any adverse impact, while enhancing the streetscape.
The company is hoping to achieve BREEAM standard Excellent for the Woodlands House development.
With a passion for commissioning new artwork by local artists, poets and designers for its PBSA developments, Alumno want to position works at the entrance and in the proposed courtyard based around Glasgow’s art history.
Glasgow’s five universities host over 76,000 students, almost half of which are living in private rented accommodation putting pressure on local housing.
Alumno aims to help ease these pressures with the Woodlands House scheme.
