Wednesday December 17th 2025
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sarah Hilley
Two blocks of student flats have been approved in Hillhead amid 182 objections including concerns about the loss of a car park impacting shops.
The University of Glasgow got the green light to build the ‘tenemental’ style buildings, offering 291 beds on Lilybank car park.
Businesses and locals say the car park near Ashton Lane provides badly needed vehicle spaces for shoppers but councillors described it as being in “poor” condition and a bit of a “monstrosity”.
As well the six storey development the proposal includes improvements to Lilybank Gardens including new paths, planting and street furniture. There is also to be commercial space in the ground floor of the development.
A planning meeting heard this morning how more dedicated student accommodation is needed as there are about 87,000 young people attending city universities and some end up competing with local people seeking flats to rent.
Ashley Gibbons, head of accommodation services at University of Glasgow said: “Citywide as of October 2025 there are just shy of 22,000 beds, which is a poor student to bed ratio. We see first hand the stress and anxiety that a lack of accommodation places on our students and the impact it has on their health well being and student experience. This ongoing challenge of supply and demand results in students relying on the private rental sector – directly competing with locals, young professionals and families looking for places to live.”
A representative of the architects working on the development said “ultimately they are tenemental buildings” and that they are reinstating properties previously there.
Planning consultant Graeme Laing said: “A lack of accommodation is one of the single greatest constraints on the university. The proposed development will deliver much needed accommodation in walking distance of the university where demand is the strongest.”
The planning applications meeting this morning heard the flats will be cheaper than private lets and available for post-graduates.
Objecting to the bid Cresswell Lane shop operator John Turner said local businesses are concerned about the closure of the only long term car park in the area without a replacement.
He pointed out another 40 spaces could be lost on Byres Road as part of public realm work . Mr Turner said the reduction of vehicle parking could have a “devastating” impact on the local economy – with loss of footfall and sales.
The chair of the Byres Road and Lanes Business Improvement District (BID) said the group carried out research in 2024 revealing 30 per cent of visitors travelled by car to the area.
He also said local businesses were concerned about construction causing disruption.
Commenting on the appearance of the development he added how the new buildings will create a “negative visual impact” to the entrance of Great George Lane and Ashton Lane.
Another objector said the erasure of more than 100 parking spaces will result in a loss of accessibility to the local shops and amenities and will exclude people with disabilities and the larger number of people who have mobility difficulties.
Speaking from first-hand experience after the amputation of her legs due to meningitis, the resident added: “I now live in the area with severe disability. I’m one of the many disabled people living in the local area who are part of a community who want to shop locally. To do that we sometimes need to park near the shops.”
Councillors voted to approve the planning application subject to conditions despite the many objections.
Councillor Jill Pidgeon said: “For as long as I can remember it has been the car park and it is unpleasant to look at. It is a bit of a monstrosity just now.
“I think in this proposal the applicant has done a tremendous amount of work to do something that is sustainable and is going to be in keeping with what is being offered.”
Committee chair Ken Andrew said the site belongs to the university and described the car park as “poor”.
He pointed out improvements to Lilybank Gardens will open up the area for people with mobility issues and work can be done to improve disabled access.
Tweet Share on Facebook
