A MAJOR student accommodation block has been approved for a Glasgow city centre site.

Planners have agreed that Artisan Real Estate can demolish empty offices at 292-298 St Vincent Street and build a 321-studio complex.

Artisan previously had permission granted for two other plans for the site; a hotel and a co-living facility.

A statement submitted with their latests planning application explained: “In April 2020, Artisan Real Estate secured planning consent to develop a 248-bed, four-star hotel, but, due to the impact of covid on the hospitality sector, a revised application was submitted in 2021 proposing residential serviced living.

“A restriction imposed on the occupancy under the co-living proposal meant that it could not be funded in the current climate.

“Having tested the market for both hotel and co-living, Artisan Real Estate recognised the widely publicised demand for student accommodation to service the various further and higher education institutions of Glasgow and partnered with Homes for Students to propose high quality student accommodation to meet the needs of the city.

“Significantly, the new proposal will work within the general building envelope and massing of the previous consented scheme, with some slight variations.

“Given that the ‘shell’ of the building is not proposed to change significantly, the client seeks to pursue a flexible strategy for the site.”

Homes for Students already manage six student residential buildings in Glasgow, all of which were at 100 per cent occupancy at the time of the application in April last year.