Private rented housing developer Moda has secured planning permission to transform the old Strathclyde Police headquarters on Pitt Street into a ‘build-to-rent neighbourhood’.
Under plans approved by Glasgow City Council, Holland Park – named after the grand hotel-style lobby that will sit on Holland Street – will offer 433 high-tech homes designed exclusively for rent, as well as 45,000 sq. ft. of amenity space that all residents will have access to.
To be developed in a joint venture with real estate investment management firm Apache Capital Partners, the £120 million scheme will start on-site later this year, with the first homes available in 2022.
The application was the subject of extensive consultation including a two-day public extension and received no objections.
The plans received an endorsement from the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, which said the “design proposals are of an exceptional quality, and will provide vitality and vibrancy to this part of the city which is in urgent need of investment”.
Designed by Glasgow architects HAUS-Collective, the 433 homes will spread across four buildings set around a new public courtyard, ranging from 6-22 storeys in height, complementing the existing city skyline. All the apartments, which will be a mix of studios, one, two, and three-beds, will be digitally-enabled and collectively house a community of nearly 1000 people.
Holland Park will have communal space, including residents’ lounges, virtual sports simulators, health and wellness zones, landscaped roof gardens, with views of Glasgow and indoor/outdoor BBQ areas. The developer will work with Glasgow City Council to improve the surrounding streets and install new green infrastructure.
Tony Brooks, managing director at Moda, said: “Securing planning permission for Holland Park is a real milestone for the business, and puts us one step closer to creating the UK’s leading lifestyle property brand. The absence of objections during the consultation and state of support from the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is a real testament to the strength of the Moda and Apache Capital model, which will offer renters in the city an experience far above and beyond what is already available.”
Richard Jackson, co-founder and managing director of Apache Capital Partners, said: “We are delighted to have successfully secured our planning application for the complete regeneration of the old Metropolitan Police Headquarters, our first planning consent in Scotland. The across the board support we have received from both central and local government has been critical in delivering this consent and a great endorsement of our landmark scheme. Holland Park’s stunning design and facilities will transform the local rental market in Glasgow, whilst helping to breathe new life into the surrounding neighbourhood.”
Councillor Kenny McLean, city convener for neighbourhoods, housing and public realm at Glasgow City Council, added: “We welcome this development of high-quality new homes to Glasgow. It will be attractive to the increasing number of people who want to live and work at the centre of Scotland’s metropolitan area. Holland Park complements plans for more housing investment in and around our city centre and supports the key aim of the council’s Housing Strategy in terms of ensuring access to good quality homes.”