Abandoned Glasgow Store to Be Razed for Student Housing Project

An abandoned department store situated in Glasgow’s city centre, which has been vacant for nearly two decades, is scheduled for demolition to facilitate the construction of a 19-story student accommodation building. The city council’s planning committee has granted approval for proposals concerning a structure comprising 173 studio apartments at the location of the erstwhile Littlewoods establishment on Cambridge Street. This retail premises, positioned near Sauchiehall Street, one of Glasgow’s principal commercial thoroughfares, has largely remained unoccupied since 2005. Permission was initially granted to developers for the construction of a hotel of comparable dimensions on the identical plot; however, these plans were abandoned due to a lack of financial viability. According to officials, the sanctioned proposals represent a constructive move towards rejuvenating the unoccupied land in “the heart of Glasgow”. This endorsement follows a “need assessment” that indicated an increased demand for student residences within the city. Throughout the last year, numerous planning applications for student apartments have been submitted to Glasgow City Council, encompassing locations in areas such as Trongate and Charing Cross. Construction commenced last week on an additional 19-story student accommodation project on St Vincent Street. The forthcoming apartments at the former Littlewoods site are situated close to Sauchiehall Street, which is presently undergoing its own revitalization. Furthermore, the Marks & Spencer store on the same street, which ceased operations in April 2022, had also been put forward as a potential location for an 18-story student complex, but these proposals were turned down in 2023 due to concerns about “over-concentration” of student housing. Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow was formerly a prominent destination for major high street retailers. Nevertheless, recent years have witnessed the closure of significant retail establishments, including Marks & Spencer, BHS, and Watt Brothers. Reports from 2022 indicated that 36 percent of the structures on Sauchiehall Street continued to be vacant. In 2018, a fire at the Glasgow School of Art also led to the destruction of the O2 ABC music venue located on the same street. This year, it was verified that the O2 ABC would be razed for reasons of public safety. Council members express optimism that the forthcoming 19-story student residence at the Littlewoods location will contribute to an increase in pedestrian traffic on the high street once more. Conservative councillor Thomas Kerr stated that this development would assist in enhancing “the economic interests of Sauchiehall Street”. He further commented that an increase in student housing options would make more residential properties available for other inhabitants of Glasgow. Conversely, SNP councillor Declan Bench voiced apprehensions regarding the “over-concentration” of student apartments, citing this as the reason for the rejection of the Marks & Spencer site proposal.