Varsity Developments has been given the green light for a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Glasgow, Scotland. The permission was granted by a Scottish Government reporter, after the firm complained Glasgow City Council had taken too long to make a decision.
Council planners had called for the appeal to be dismissed, but they have now granted listed building and conservation area consent.
The developer lodged the appeal with the Scottish Government regarding the planning application, citing a lack of ‘meaningful’ feedback despite the statutory determination period of four months having elapsed.
The PBSA will now be constructed on the former site of the Admiral pub, on Waterloo Street. The Admiral shut down in March 2023 due to the redevelopment plans, with the public house moving to a new venue, previously The Woods, on the corner of Waterloo Street and Wellington Street. It is known as The Admiral Woods.
The approval clears the way for the demolition of an unlisted tenement and the partial demolition of the B-listed Distiller’s Building at 64-72A Waterloo Street, to deliver a 19 storey PBSA tower, designed by Cooper Cromar. The development will include 350 student bedrooms alongside amenities including an on-site cinema, virtual reality room, pool tables, and an indoor sports court.
Varsity, part of the Locate Developments Group, took ownership of the site in March 2022 and has partnered with Aparto, who will manage the scheme.
Construction can only commence once all conditions of the planning, listed building, and conservation area consents are fully satisfied.
