Cordatus Real Estate and 3DReid Architects are seeking change of use approval for 33 Bothwell Street following a declining occupancy rate.

The conversion would turn the 1970s office block into 99-bedroom spaces in a mix of 72 studios, seven accessible studios, 20 cluster bedrooms, and 53 cycling spaces on the ground floor. The development would also include a two-storey rooftop extension, resulting in an eight-storey building which better aligns with the adjacent Mercantile Building, which features a maximum height of 49.348m.

In the planning statement, Montagu Evans wrote: “The Proposal will contribute to the long-term viability of the Glasgow City Centre by pro-actively regenerating and re-purposing a 1970s commercial building that does not meet current occupier requirements and is predicted to be vacant by November 2025.

“The proposed student accommodation is outside the two identified areas of overconcentration in Glasgow: South Patrick/Yorkhill and Townhead/Cowcaddens.”

Outlining its approach, 3DReid added: “The design concept aims to accentuate the building’s horizontal recesses, using this distinctive banding to inform the architectural language of the rooftop extension. This approach creates a harmonious dialogue between the new and existing elements, with the series of horizontal bands complementing the deep recesses in the sandstone facade.”