Yorkhill, Glasgow

Brownfield Site - Student Accommodation

Project Brief

This former petrol filling station site being only 5 mins walk from Glasgow University had potential for student flats plus a convenience shop on the ground floor.

Challenges

The site had consent for mainstream flats which was a pre-credit crunch consent, however the costs of construction with underground parking resulted in the land valuation being reduced. The site was also contaminated and formerly a church site prior to a filling station; the site investigation revealed that old timber piles, supporting the church, were still in situ.

Opportunity

My colleague approached the landowner and introduced the site to our client, Seaforth Developments, a specialist in student accommodation. A scheme for 112 student flats was drawn up with a large convenience supermarket on the ground floor.

Sale

After lengthy negotiations with the landowner a contract was signed and planning consent was achieved in due course. Parties said it couldn’t be done , however, it was concluded.
Our client Seaforth Developments bought this site. Tesco took the ground floor. The student investment was then sold on.