By Matt Willcock., Development director at PLATFORM_

BUSINESS is booming in Scotland’s cities. Glasgow remains the country’s number one start-up hotspot, while Barclays will bring an additional 2,500 jobs to the city, having announced plans to move into the Buchanan Wharf development. It’s becoming a destination city for employment, with a mix of well-established businesses and innovative start-ups attracting a range of diverse talent across sectors.

But there’s one significant problem – Glasgow needs more homes and particularly in the city core. This is a trend we’re seeing across Scotland, with the shortage driving up house prices, and pricing would-be buyers out of the market. Of course, this problem isn’t unheard of, it’s UK-wide.

Glasgow also needs homes that are suitable, and affordable, for the modern workforce. If Glasgow is to maintain its upward trajectory of growth, the city must be able to match the workforce evolution with similarly innovative and forward-thinking accommodation.

Most of us feel that our work and personal lives are blurring like never before, thanks to flexible working and connectivity, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, research shows 70 per cent of millennials would choose flexible working over a pay rise. A growing number now want to fit work around their lifestyles, and while sending emails at 10pm might shock the traditional realm of 9-5 workers, this style of working allows individuals to strike a work/life balance that suits them.

As well as flexible working, changes in working habits means people – particularly young professionals – are working at home more frequently. There’s definitely a need for homes to accommodate remote working, which means people aren’t confined to the office, or, the room in which the wi-fi is quickest.

This is where many build-to-rent developments come to play a significant role, as they provide common spaces to work and socialise. It’s not uncommon for these developments to have gyms, lounge areas, rooftop terraces and collaborative working facilities in addition to self-contained apartments – all the elements needed to suit an evolving range of lifestyles. Residents may sleep in their apartments, but the rest of the building is for living.

Build-to-rent developments are soaring in popularity with people who want flexible, sociable and cost-effective living, with the ability to walk or cycle to work also high on the agenda. There are many such developments popping up across the UK. Scotland, however, is lagging behind – for every build-to-rent home here, the north-west of England has almost10.

This isn’t just a missed opportunity for developers, but also for Scotland’s business landscape. The majority of people moving to a new city for work don’t want to feel as if they have to settle for less with their living environment, particularly when it comes to city-centre living. In this way, living spaces are an important tool in attracting talent, as well as securing further inward investment.

Finally, residents don’t need to worry about fluctuating standards in the same building, often the case in buildings with multiple owners or landlords. The majority of build-to-rent properties are managed by a single business, meaning residents can be sure of consistency in quality and service throughout the property, from individual apartments to social spaces and leisure facilities.

The lines are blurring between work and play, which is certainly no bad thing in a vibrant city such as Glasgow. And as the city prepares to welcome new businesses to its centre, it must also prepare for an influx of workers in need of contemporary, flexible accommodation.