Planners have urged council officials to sign off on a Glasgow student skyscraper known as The Àrd. Property developer Watkin Jones wants to renovate the former Portcullis House site beside the M8 at Charing Cross.
Designed by local architectural firm Hawkins Brown, the scheme would deliver 784 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) rooms and space for ground floor commercial units.
Councillors on Glasgow’s planning committee are due to consider the application on Tuesday, following the planning application being submitted in December 2023.
It seems that city planners are in favour of The Àrd proposal. In their report to the committee, they state that the application complies with the relevant policies of Glasgow’s development plan.
“The proposed scheme has been designed to respond to the existing street context, whilst delivering a modern ‘landmark’ where it is felt that height can be accommodated on the site.
“It is considered that in this circumstance, the proposal can be successfully integrated and provide a positive contribution to the built environment as it has been designed to respond to this.”
City planning statement
A design statement for The Àrd also argues the Glasgow student skyscraper development would meet the demand for high-quality PBSA, whilst providing a distinctive landmark on the city’s skyline.
“The development is staggered in form, with the tallest element being 34 storeys with a lower shoulder of nine to 11 storeys relating to the shoulder of the neighbouring Scottish Power building. The building will be managed by a sole PBSA operator.
“The proposed high-quality student accommodation is in a prime urban location. It boasts excellent access to amenities and transport links, repopulating the City Centre and benefiting local businesses as part of the overall regeneration of Blythswood and the M8 corridor.
“There is huge demand in Glasgow for PBSA, which offers well-managed accommodation, with access to a wide range of onsite amenities.
“The high proportion of shared amenity spaces will ensure that the ground floor and roofscapes help activate the newly enhanced streetscape around the building, playing a positive role in the regeneration of this part of Blythswood.
“The double height amenity space at the top of the building… will shine like a beacon at night, delivering a new a distinctive landmark on the City skyline.”
Design document application
It news of The Àrd comes as a historic Glasgow building that was once used as a nightclub has also been granted planning to be redeveloped into a new PBSA development.
Glasgow City Council’s planning committee approved an application by real estate investor CA Ventures to partially demolish buildings on Queen Street and build a 14-storey PBSA block with 195 student beds.
Currently, the city centre building on Queen Street, built in the early 1830s, stands at four storeys and it is now due to be rejuvenated.
The new PBSA development will include a range of amenities including a cinema, gym, games lounge, dining room and study area. There will also be a ground floor commercial unit, intended for reoccupation by Tam Shepherd’s Trick Shop.
