Student flats in Glasgow city centre could be turned into short-stay accommodation for tourists under a new plan.
Glasgow City Council has received a request from Martha Street Investment Limited to change the use of part of the 19-storey student accommodation block on John Street.
The firm also wants to temporarily use the whole building for short-stay lets during the summer months, when it isn’t being used by students.
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According to the plans, the “relaxation of the use to allow the flexible use of short-stay accommodation will support the viability and function of the building”.
Known as Martha Street Apartments, the building is operated by Abodus Student Living. The operator would “enter into tenancy agreements with students which exclude the summer months”.
“And, in line with other student housing developments across the city, would seek to meet the significant demand for short term holiday lets by letting out the units not occupied by students over the summer months,” the application states.
It would mean holiday lets could be provided across the whole building in June, July and August.
Under the proposal, a mix of student accommodation and short-stay accommodation would be provided within six floors (2nd to 7th) where the units “will be occupied by either the visitors or students depending on the demand”.
“The units, once occupied by students, will remain in student use until the end of the term time and the remaining units that are not occupied by students will be used as short-stay accommodation.”
The existing student accommodation use would be retained within the upper twelve floors (8th to 19th). A maximum of 85 beds would be used for short-stay accommodation, with 190 beds remaining as student occupation only.
A games room and gym would be shared by students and visitors while a cinema and study rooms would remain student use only during term time. A private dining room, broadcast room and second floor study space would also be only available to students.
Plans state the pre-application response from Glasgow City Council was “supportive of the principle of change of use from student accommodation to short-stay accommodation and introduction of a mix of uses within the block”.
“The proposal was considered to introduce a well-designed and well-located tourist accommodation within the city.”
Council planners are currently considering the application.