Four new projects greenlit by Glasgow City Council
The University of Glasgow is expanding its campus, unveiling plans to build new student accommodation in the Byers Road area as well as two purpose-built Innovation Hubs.
The project will be carried out by University’s partner and Australian company, Plenary Group. The company acts as developer and investor, with Royal London Asset Management operating as the senior debt provider and Arlington Collegiate UK joining as the student accommodation operator. The venture will see a £180 million investment into the University of Glasgow’s campus development programme. The initiative, which began in 2017, has already seen the completion of four new university buildings: the James McCune Smith Learning Hub, the Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre, the Clarice Pears Building and the Adam Smith Building.
With a fifth ‘Keystone’ building currently under construction and set to be completed in 2028, the University of Glasgow is not slowing down.
With planning permission approved by the Glasgow City Council for three of the four projects in the Church Street Programme, this next step in the University’s campus development is set to commence. It is also expected that these developments will increase the relationships between the university and the city of Glasgow as a whole by encouraging research and improving student housing facilities.
This will be the first time Plenary Group will be operating in Scotland as the company’s Head of UK and Europe, Richard Osborne, remarked: “Plenary is delighted to be collaborating with the University of Glasgow and our consortium partners on our first project in Scotland.”
“Our experience in forming long term partnerships with universities around the world makes us ideally placed to deliver the University’s vision for the Campus Development program.”
This is only the beginning of a substantial relationship between the University of Glasgow and Plenary Group, as the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Andy Schofield, said “We are delighted to partner with the Plenary-led consortium on the next stage of our landmark Campus Development program.”
“This phase builds on more than a decade of investment in our campus, creating world-class teaching, research, and social spaces alongside vibrant community areas. Through this development, we will bring our vision for Church Street to life; establishing a hub for collaboration, innovation, and partnership, where we work closely with partners to amplify the impact of our research.”
Although a start date has yet to be announced, the University of Glasgow’s Gilmore Campus in the West End will continue to see development under the largest university expansion campaign in the UK.
Image Credit: University of Glasgow
