Build to rent block replaces student accommodation in Glasgow city centre proposal

A mixed-use development near Glasgow’s George Street has gained planning approval with final plans including a 20-storey tower that will now house rental flats instead of student accommodation.Previously home to a number of Glasgow City Council departments, the George Street Complex, as it was previously known, consisted of a collection of disparate and contrasting buildings including the former Inland Revenue building at 280 George Street and the Parish Halls at 266 George Street, as well as an 80-year-old gap site and assorted small storage buildings on Martha Street.Revised drawings submitted to the local authority by Chris Stewart Group called for a change of use of the high-rise building at its newly-named Love Loan development which involves much of the block bounded by Martha Street, John Street, North Frederick Street and George Street.Instead of a 272-room student housing complex, there will be a 136-flat build-to-rent block on Martha Street, with a mixture of studios, one and two-bedroom units.Other aspects of Love Loan include an 11-storey hotel nearing completion on the George Street / John Street corner.The A-listed former Parish Halls building next door at 266 George Street is being incorporated into the hotel which will have 246 beds. The B-listed Inland Revenue building at 280 George Street is to house 12 flats. A three-storey building to the rear of the Parish Halls is being converted to offices. There will be ground floor commercial space across the site.An east-west lane linking North Frederirck Street and John Street, fronted by new ground floor commercial, retail, leisure and food/drink uses. A public plaza will be provided into front of the build-to-rent complex.Funding for public realm around the Love Loan development was approved by the local authority in June this year.