COUNCILLORS have voted narrowly in favour of a development of student residences proposed for a vacant plot in North Kelvinside.

Kelvin Properties has been given permission for a complex with 134 studio rooms at the corner of Kelbourne Street and Queen Margaret Drive, beside a small park.

The building, ranging from five to seven storeys, will include two roof terraces, a sky lounge, games area and gym.

Councillors on Glasgow’s planning applications committee voted 5:4 to approve the application today, Nearly 50 objections were received but city planners had recommended approval.

The student accommodation will have a similar building footprint, scale and massing to that of a 39-flat scheme for which permission was previously given.

Officials stated in their report: “The application site is not in an area with large numbers of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and so would not have a cumulative effect. The introduction of PBSA would not likely undermine the character and amenity of the area in principle.

“Additional student accommodation can be absorbed within the locality without having a harmful impact upon the maintenance of a sustainable community.

“The proposal for purpose-built student accommodation in this location is therefore considered to make a positive contribution to the local environment and shall support regeneration objectives. It is not considered to raise harmful impacts upon the existing community.

“Should demand for student accommodation reduce in future, the proposal has been designed to be flexible to alternative uses and could be converted to, for example, mainstream residential.”

A design document submitted with the planning application stated: “Since planning permission was granted [for the flats], the shortage of student accommodation has dramatically increased, and as such the proposed use is now for purpose-built student accommodation.”

It continued: “It is intended that ‘This Is Fresh’, a well-experienced student homes operator, will manage the building.

“The design has been developed based on their brand standards, with ‘This Is Fresh’ providing on site management, wellbeing support for students and a range of programmes to ensure strong community connections are built.”

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