Planning consent has been secured by the investment partnership behind Get Living PLC for Scotland’s largest build-to-rent (BTR) scheme to-date.

The plans will see a derelict site in the historic heart of Glasgow transformed in to a new residential neighbourhood after Glasgow City Council approved plans which will enable the investment partnership to invest £200m to build 727 new build-to-rent homes on a 7.5-acre site behind High Street rail station.

Rick de Blaby, Executive Chairman at Get Living, said: “We welcome the decision by Glasgow City Council to grant consent for our neighbourhood and believe it will bring much needed, in-demand, high-quality homes for rent to the heart of the city.

“With a wealth of commercial developments in the city centre and on the waterfront of the river Clyde, it is an exciting time for Glasgow and it is fantastic to be able to say we are now a part of its ongoing revitalisation. We have listened carefully to the views of local businesses and the people of Glasgow in forming these ambitious plans.”

The scheme will feature a new public square, 99 student studios and approximately 3,365 sqm of space for retail, leisure, food and drink and commercial business plus new tree-lined access routes on the site will connect the Merchant City through to the East End via High Street.

Other than a section currently used as a car park the site has lain vacant and derelict for many years.

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce said: “This development will completely overhaul a key area of Glasgow, located right on the cusp of the city centre in an ideal location. It is an impressive and extensive scheme in both its scale and ambition, creating hundreds of high-quality homes alongside competitively located commercial space.  

“Attracting people to live centrally is a key priority for our urban planners, driving sustained volumes of footfall for the retail and leisure sectors whilst also bringing skilled workers closer to their jobs and reducing travel demand.”

This new district for Glasgow will be operated and managed by Get Living, with work on the first phase of the development expected to start this year, subject to a building warrant.