The student housing developer has received planning permission to deliver a 36-storey, 784-bed development in Glasgow
Watkin Jones, the student housing and build-to-rent developer, has received approval from Glasgow City Council to build what is set to be the tallest residential tower in Scotland, at 36 storeys or 114m tall.
Although the tallest structure in both Glasgow and Scotland is currently the 127m Glasgow Science Centre, this new development will be the tallest residential building in the country.
The 784-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme, called The 脌rd, will be delivered as part of the regeneration of the 1970s-built Portcullis House, at Charing Cross.
Part of the building, which was most recently used as an HMRC office, will be retained and incorporated into the new development.
The scheme was designed by Manchester-based architectural firm Hawkins\Brown.
According to the planning application presented to the committee on Tuesday, the office building has been vacant since 2020 and 鈥渇ailed to attract a tenant over a number of years鈥�.
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Earlier this week, Watkin Jones issued a profit warning for the year ending 30 September, revising its forecasted profit down to between 拢10m and 拢12m, from the previously estimated 拢15m to 拢20m.
It also said it does not expect its 2025 figure to be higher than this.
Watkin Jones attributed the revised expectations to a 鈥渟lower than expected鈥� summer. Following the announcement, its share prices dropped by 28% from 50.30p to 36.10p.
Since 2011, Watkin Jones has completed nine managed student accommodation developments in Glasgow, delivering a total of around 4,000 student homes.
The report highlighted that the development will help address the shortage of student accommodation in the city.
It noted that Glasgow currently has an estimated 20,514 PBSA bed spaces, with only 27% of full-time students residing in purpose-built student accommodation.
The UK has an average PBSA provision rate of 35%, which means Glasgow requires an additional 6,000 student beds, assuming there is no change in student numbers.
The report added that 40% of total full-time students live in houses of multiple occupancy or private rented stock 鈥渙f varying quality鈥�.
Watkin Jones has stated that the project will save 900 tonnes of embodied carbon by retaining part of Portcullis House鈥檚 reinforced concrete frame.
The development also aims to achieve an 鈥楨xcellent鈥� BREEAM rating.
Iain Smith, planning director at Watkin Jones, said: 鈥淎midst the chronic undersupply of student housing in Glasgow, this development marks a significant step forward in addressing the demand for additional student accommodation and represents our commitment to creating sustainable homes in key regeneration areas.
鈥淲e look forward to working further with Glasgow City Council on future projects.鈥�
Smith added: 鈥淭he 脌rd will not only revitalise the current brownfield site at Charing Cross, bringing much-needed redevelopment to Glasgow, but will also enhance the public realm and support the thriving student community.鈥�
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