VACANT office space in central Glasgow is being lined up for conversion to student accommodation.

Nearly 50 student studio unit would be formed on the upper floors of Finlay House, 10-14 West Nile Street, under plans lodged by abrdn plc on behalf of The Nottinghamshire County Council Pension Fund.

Documents submitted with the application state: “The premises have seen challenging times with 50 per cent of the floor space vacant over the long term (over 18 months).

“The longer-term prospects for the building are not good as office space in the city is plentiful following the longer terms impacts of the pandemic with many working from home or on hybrid arrangements.

“To ensure the building has a viable and sustainable future, the project brief was to retain it’s successful ground floor retail uses, whilst repurposing upper levels for student accommodation.

“Our proposal is for the creation of 48 student studio rooms, with associated high quality internal amenity provision.”

The ground floor, occupied by Las Iguanas restaurant and Innis & Gunn Brewery Taproom public house, would be unaffected.

Facilities would include a games room, a gym and a private dining room.