Rise in number of student flat developments planned for Glasgow’s West End

Two new developments were proposed this month, with one potentially leading to the demolition of a beloved restaurant 

A London-based developer has submitted plans to demolish two landmark buildings in Glasgow’s West End. The buildings on Byer’s Road and Ashton Lane currently house beloved North Indian restaurant Ashoka and the supermarket Iceland. Both could soon be replaced by student accommodation under plans submitted by Ashton Lane Development Ltd.

Documents submitted to Glasgow City Council propose the demolition of the long-standing restaurant, which has operated in Ashton Lane since 1972, in order to make room for a mixed-use development. Many residents are opposing the move, partly due to the impact it will have on the ambience of the historic cobbled street.

The proposal would include short-stay accommodation for students outside of term time, and would include ground-level spaces for restaurants and retail units. Ashton Lane Development Ltd have announced that a full planning application will be submitted to the council by mid-May at the earliest. 

The private company, which was only incorporated in January 2026 according to Companies House, is majority-owned by Omar Allahar. 

The plans come alongside the proposed redevelopment of a derelict tenement block that collapsed in 2007. The site, standing between 259 and 275 Wilton Street, likely decayed due to an adjacent building project for an underground car park and block of flats, according to the North Kelvinside community. However, the outcome of the Health and Safety Executive’s investigation is not known, and the cause of the collapse remains unclear.

The site owner, Mr Bassi, was previously fined £1,800 in 2004 for operating a house in multiple occupancy with no HMO license. 

While Glasgow City Council is still evaluating the application, a decision on the proposal is expected by 24th April. 

This drive for purpose-built student accommodation is likely to raise concerns, especially in the wake of the approved Lilybank Gardens project. Plans to build a 291-bed development close to Ashton Lane and demolish a brownfield car parking site were met with 182 objections. Both residents and businesses raised issues such as the loss of trees, disabled access, and negative impacts on local businesses, which partly rely on the parking facility.

The council, however, passed the application with around 50 conditions. The University of Glasgow emphasised the lack of purpose-built student residences: this development would be one of the first in over 20 years.

The application states: “The primary goal is to offer students high-quality, close-to-campus accommodation that meets the needs of our growing academic community and enriches our students’ overall university experience.”

The plans for student accommodation accompany the University’s £180 million partnership to expand its Gilmorehill campus.