Housing association hopes ambitious Station House plans will help ‘revitalise the city centre’

West of Scotland Housing Association purchased Station House on St Enoch Square in 2024 with plans to transform the former Glasgow and South Western Railway Company headquarters into 28 mid-market rental flats. The milestone project is the housing associations first project directly supporting Glasgow City Council’s city centre regeneration plan and ambition to double the city centre population by 2035.

Chief Executive of WSHA, Simon Fitzpatrick, said: "We are thrilled to have been awarded planning consent for Station House in the heart of the city centre as our first conversion project. We are proposing to develop the site for up to 28 mid-market rent homes which will provide new affordable housing options for residents and kickstart a new approach to revitalising the city centre. We have been supported with the acquisition of the historic building by Glasgow City Council through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme and are delighted to be a major partner in the Council's strategy to bring people back into Glasgow city centre, ensuring the future sustainability of the city."

The multi-million pound conversion project is being supported by architects MAST. The Glasgow-based firm have been involved in a number of restoration projects, including Glasgow Art Club and Coatbridge Library.

Project Architect at MAST, Calum Foster said: “This project will not only deliver high-quality homes in the heart of Glasgow but will also breathe new life into two important buildings, safeguarding their future. It’s an opportunity to combine sensitive conservation with sustainable design, helping to shape a more vibrant and liveable city centre. This project shows how underused upper floors in the city centre can be reimagined to create much-needed homes.

“By introducing 28 high-quality flats for mid-market rent, we’re supporting Glasgow’s ambition to bring more people back into the heart of the city and are delighted to be partnering with the West of Scotland Group and CCG (Scotland) Ltd in bringing this important project to fruition.”

Councillor Kenny McLean, convener for Housing at Glasgow City Council, welcomed the project, calling the approval “significant news”.

He said: “This is significant news that illustrates the changes underway in Glasgow city centre, and we are delighted to support West of Scotland Housing Association on this project. The repurposing of this vacant property, and increasing the city centre population, are key goals in our strategies for the area. The plans for this striking building will not only bring it back to life but also help revitalise St Enoch’s Square as residents enjoy affordable, high-quality and energy-efficient homes in the centre of Glasgow.”

The refurbishment of Station House will mark the Association’s first Glasgow city centre mid-market rent homes. The plans were approved by council officials last week.