Urban regeneration specialist Vita Group has earmarked a site at 20 India Street, Charing Cross, for the development and hopes to submit a planning application in November.

Local residents and interested parties from across the city are invited to attend the first public consultation event will take place on 23 August 2023 at The Renfield Training and Conference Centre, between 2-7pm to help shape ideas around India Street, with a second event scheduled for Wednesday 20 September at The Renfield Training and Conference Centre from 2-7pm.

The student offering will be delivered under Vita Group’s student brand Vita Student which already has a residence in operation in Glasgow’s West End.

A statement on the project’s website explains: “The proposition is for the comprehensive, high-quality and expedient redevelopment of the land available.

“Vita Group’s primary intention is to develop a Vita Student scheme comprising student living units with associated private internal and external residents’ amenity, and vastly improved public realm.

“The proposal will include a mix of both studio and cluster rooms, of varying sizes.

“There will also be an affordable housing block developed on the site that will incorporate a mix of one and two-bed apartments.”

The developer added: “A report undertaken by Savills into Glasgow’s Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) Market notes that Glasgow’s student population has experienced consistent year-on-year over the past 10 years, with an increase in the full-time student population by over 27,000 during this period.

“There is a significant under-supply of PBSA in Glasgow, with 75 per cent of full-time students unable to access student accommodation. There are currently 19,279 PBSA beds in Glasgow, representing a 58,346-bed shortfall across the city.

“This is supported by recent articles in the press which highlight the difficulties students in Glasgow have in securing appropriate accommodation during their studies.”

Max Bielby, chief operating officer for Vita Group, said: “We’re excited to start the consultation process for India Street, sharing our vision for what promises to be a vibrant new community. Glasgow’s undersupply of student accommodation and affordable homes continues to impact on Glasgow’s rental market, reducing available homes across the city.

“Our plans for India Street will help to alleviate some of those pressures, with much needed student accommodation as well as more affordable homes. We hope that by building upon our investment into the city, we’ll be able to create a new, thriving community which complements the neighbourhood and the city.”