New proposals for the redevelopment of the former Archaos nightclub in Glasgow are being put up for consultation.
Property investor CA Ventures is looking to build new a new student accommodation block with retail space on the ground floor at the Queen Street site.
The proposed development could generate around 250 construction jobs, including direct on-site jobs and those in the construction supply chain. The firm claims that this could be worth more than £10m to the Glasgow economy during the construction phase.
The nightclub closed its doors in 2007 and has lain vacant since. CA Ventures stated that it is in "extremely poor condition" and does not offer sufficient floor area or a suitable internal layout to provide a viable development opportunity for commercial or residential use.
Previous proposals to open the building as a new nightclub and later as an office scheme floundered on the costs required to refurbish a building that had deteriorated over the years.
As one of the few viable options, CA Ventures stated that student accommodation will aim to accommodate circa 230 students with fully serviced apartments and amenities.
As part of the pre-application consultation process, two statutory consultations will be held for the project, the first on 2 November and the second on 1 December at the former Bowery Bar, 35 to 41 Queen Street.
Proposals will see a planning application submitted hopefully towards the end of the year. If planning permission is approved, the intention is for work to start on-site in 2023.
The targeted entry date will serve the beginning of the academic year in August 2025.
A representative from CA Ventures said: "We will serve to provide much-needed student accommodation in a building which has lain empty since 2007 and which, due to its condition, provide limited options for redevelopment.
"During a well-documented shortage of purpose-built student accommodation, potential students have no choice but to explore rental accommodation, which adds to the already significant strain on housing stock.
"These proposals are at an early design stage, and over the next few weeks, we look forward to engaging in discussions with the local community about how best to progress this."
Separately, plans for the redevelopment of the former Marks & Spencer store on Sauchiehall Street are being brought forward with a public consultation next month.
Fusion Students has proposed student, and potentially other residential accommodation, for around 500 residents, with re-instated alternative shopping facilities at ground floor level.
The plans come amidst a widespread shortage of student accommodation in the city, with recent reports that some students are being advised to defer their studies due to the lack of suitable accommodation.
A market overview of purpose-built student accommodation in the city has revealed that the city only has purpose-built accommodation for 27% of around 70,000 students studying in Glasgow, forcing some students to continue to live at home or turn to the very competitive private rented sector.
The in-person event is part of a 12-week consultation period on the proposals, with a Proposal of Application Notice having been submitted to Glasgow City Council.
Members of the public are free to attend the consultation at the city’s CitizenM Hotel on 2 November.
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