Wednesday March 18th 2026
Consent to demolish buildings on the Trongate has been granted
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
Developers planning to build student flats in Glasgow city centre have been granted fresh consent to knock down a former bank and bar.
Caledon Properties has renewed its permission to demolish buildings — once home to the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Oriental Bar — at the corner of Trongate and Hutcheson Street.
The firm secured approval to provide 173 student flats in a block which would rise to 11 storeys in 2024. It had previously been granted permission to build a hotel on the site.
Demolition work had been approved in March 2023 but lapsed after three years. The new consent will also run from three years.
A letter sent to Glasgow City Council on behalf of the developers stated the application “mirrors the previously approved” consent, which Historic Environment Scotland had raised no objections to.
Documents submitted with the 2024 planning application stated the development would “create a high-quality purpose built student accommodation scheme” which would “make a positive contribution to the character and viability of the local area”.
It added the project would include a cafe which would be open to the public and that all 173 apartments would be one-bed studios. According to the plans, the building would have a games room, private dining and study rooms, a yoga studio, gym and lounge areas.
At that time, council planners reported it had been concluded that “demolition of the existing buildings on site would facilitate the redevelopment of the site with a more sustainable building”.
“The proposal would also utilise an existing long term vacant building, bringing the site back into active use through the development of a sympathetic but modern building,” they added.
The developers also planned to use the development as short-stay accommodation outwith term time. “This building will be an asset to the city and could become a catalyst for more development along the Trongate,” their application added.
Tweet Share on Facebook
