The 134-studio development on Queen Margaret Drive is under construction, with completion targeted for June 2027 ready for intake at the start of the 2027/28 academic year. The development received planning approval for its revised student accommodation use in June 2024, with works commencing in September last year. 

Originally acquired in 2019 with consent for a residential development, the site was repositioned following a review of market demand, amid continued pressure on student housing supply in Glasgow.

Glasgow City Council has indicated a shortfall of more than 6,000 student beds in the city, while a recent report by the University of Glasgow showed thousands of students across Scotland are at risk of homelessness, with demand for managed accommodation particularly acute in central and West End locations.

The project will be the first PBSA scheme to secure a gold accreditation under the NextGeneration Project sustainability framework, which assesses individual residential developments against environmental, social and governance criteria. Designed to achieve an EPC A rating, it will use air source heat pumps to eliminate fossil fuels and is targeting 70% carbon reduction.

Two bio-diversity focused roof terraces will incorporate habitats including log piles and nesting boxes for birds and bats. The project also commits to full recycling of construction waste and to support skills development, with at least 15% of roles delivered through modern apprenticeships.

Stephen McKechnie, founder of Kelvin Properties, said: “Securing development finance in the current environment reflects confidence in both the project and the wider Glasgow market. This scheme marks an important next step as we expand alongside our established build-to-rent and residential portfolio, and we’re very proud it is already being recognised for its commitment to sustainability.

“We undertook a review of the Glasgow market before repositioning the site and the fundamentals were clear. There is real need for more student housing as student numbers have continued to grow, particularly among the international and postgraduate cohorts, while supply remains constrained in key locations like Glasgow’s West End.”

Graeme Steel, relationship director, Bank of Scotland, real estate & housing, added: “We’re delighted to continue our longstanding relationship with Kelvin Properties through our support of this latest PBSA development in Glasgow. Over the years, we’ve built a strong and positive partnership, and their proven track record and deep understanding of the local market gave us confidence in backing this scheme.

“This project stood out due to the strength of Glasgow’s student demand and the quality of the proposed development, which rightly has received the highest possible accreditation by NextGeneration, and the first PBSA recognised. PBSA remains a resilient and important sector, helping to meet growing demand, support the city’s universities and ease pressure on the wider housing market.”

The development is being delivered by CCG as main contractor, with Cooper Cromar as architect, and will be operated by True Student upon completion.