By Ian McConnell
THE buyer of the landmark Portcullis House site at Charing Cross in Glasgow is seeking planning approval for a housing development which it says would be the tallest building in the city centre.
Watkin Jones, which develops and manages residential property for rent, bought Portcullis House from Mapeley Investment Group in August. It has now revealed proposals for the former HMRC building on India Street, at the west end of the city centre.
Watkin Jones has outlined its intention to demolish the existing building and construct a build-to-rent and co-living development of a maximum of around 30 storeys, comprising up to about 825 units overall.
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The developer has formally submitted a proposal of application notice to Glasgow City Council. Watkin Jones has informed the council that it intends to submit a planning application for the development following a minimum 12-week consultation period. It cited “extremely strong demand” in Glasgow for such accommodation.
The developer said the proposals “will also include generous amenity and ancillary facilities, activating the street level areas with potential retail, café and co-working space”.
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It signalled plans to complete the development in 2024, and added: “The regeneration of this brownfield site will form a significant part of an overall renewal of the west end of the city centre.”
Watkin Jones describes co-living as “a type of community providing flexible housing for people with shared intentions, such as sharing meals and discussion in the common living areas, and with a significant level of interaction between residents through high-quality amenity and social spaces, and programmed events and activities”.
The developer said it was “undertaking extensive consultation with local representatives, community groups and politicians... to shape these proposals”.
It flagged its recent student accommodation projects in Glasgow.
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