'People Make Glasgow' tower to be turned into flats

The Met Tower has been empty for around a decade

A landmark Glasgow tower is to be turned into flats after a property developer acquired the building.

The Vita Group intend to convert the Met Tower - known for a prominent "People Make Glasgow" graphic - into a "union co-living" space, following a similar development in Manchester.

Developers say the plan will support "a new community of city centre professionals" and boost the local economy.

The site was previously the city's college of printing and then Glasgow Metropolitan College, before being vacated more than 10 years ago.

Recent years have seen plans to re-develop the building into a tech hub fall through, while other proposals have included turning it into offices, homes and hotel accommodation.

The firm said concepts under consideration include revitalising the Met Tower, creating what it called "high-quality communal spaces" and improving links between existing and new structures as well as surrounding streets.

Max Bielby, the chief operating officer of Vita Group, said the proposal would breathe new life into the building.

"Glasgow is a city with exceptional energy, creativity, and talent, and the Met Tower is an iconic part of its skyline," he said.

"We see a real opportunity to explore how our Union concept could bring much-needed accommodation to the heart of the city, supporting its employment base, culture, and social scene."

The proposal is tied in with Glasgow City Council's strategy for the city centre, which aims to double the number of residents living there by 2035.

Vita previously rolled out the co-living concept in Manchester

Union Manchester opened earlier this year with more than 1,600 co-living beds and shared spaces, including co-working areas, a residents' bar, wellness facilities and social lounges.

The company previously stated co-union living mixes rent-by-the-room, flatmate matching and flexible stays with shared spaces like gyms, aimed at creating a community feel.

Vita are behind the ongoing proposal to turn the former O2 ABC building into a food hall and student flats.

Those plans have been called in by the Scottish government after initially being approved by the city council against the wishes of the neighbouring Glasgow School of Art.

The firm has also developed student housing throughout Glasgow.

However, the Union Manchester properties were not available for students.

Cllr Susan Aitken, the leader of Glasgow City Council, said the news represented a vote of confidence in city centre living.

"Vita's plans will bring what is an emerging accommodation concept to Glasgow, one that's been successful elsewhere and which can meet the needs of many younger residents," she said.

"When it first opened in the early 1960s, the Met Tower was a symbol of a new and modern Glasgow. I look forward to it once again becoming a potent symbol of our changing city centre."