Developer, Castlemore, has acquired from Abbey National plc and Mapeley, a 103 acre site in the gateway of Glasgow’s city centre and financial district for £120m.

Initial development plans for the office development, which are subject to planning permission, including 250,000 sq ft of office space.

Nigel Crump, spokesman for Castlemore’s project team, told PIN: “This is a major project as it is the only un-constructed site in Glasgow. Others are a mix of new build and restorations. It will take advantage of the buoyant commercial market that has emerged in Glasgow.”

Sustainability is also high on the agenda. Crump told PIN: “We are seeking to create a building that has much lower rates of carbon emissions than more traditional buildings. We plan to use an active chill beam air conditioning system that does cost more to install, but the benefits include a maximum of 30% less carbon created, using around 30% less energy to run, as well as creating 50% more fresh air in the building. It also requires far less costly maintenance than other systems do, so it is a win-win situation for all.”

Discussions are already underway with Glasgow City Council in respect of town planning. Subject to planning consent being granted for the scheme, it is hoped work could start as early as the first quarter of 2008, and should be complete in approximately three years.