Greenlight for Osborne Street Student Accommodation

Ambassador Group, with Mosaic Architecture + Design, has received planning permission for a 10-storey block of sustainable student flats on a vacant site on the corner of Osborne Street and Old Wynd in Glasgow city centre.

The current site is vacant and will benefit from a £40 million investment to create a 273-bed scheme that incorporates state-of-the-art resident amenities including a student lounge, gymnasium and large south facing terrace with views over the River Clyde.

The development is the first for the group’s Nova Living concept which is set to enter a new space in the market with a strong focus on sustainable, connected living within a high-quality, thoughtful, community focused residential environment. The concept is set to bring innovation to the living experience of city dwellers, putting sustainability and well-being at the forefront.

Ahsan Afzal, head of development for Nova Living at Ambassador Group, said:

We are delighted with the decision which allows us to progress our development plans for this key site. Glasgow’s shortage of accommodation has been well documented and with student numbers set to increase, our plans help to address this shortfall with an exciting new scheme in a brilliant location.

Proposals for the site have been refined as a result of public consultation and dialogue with city planners. A key issue highlighted by the community was the poor condition of Old Wynd. Nova Living’s plans will address this by introducing ground floor activation and public realm improvements to Old Wynd itself to improve connectivity with the Trongate.

Construction is expected to start in summer 2024, with the first students moving in from summer 2026.