Frequently Asked Questions

How do I provide comments on the proposal?

Get Living would be pleased to hear any comments you have on the proposed development. 

You can provide comments via email and telephone, feedback forms on the day of the in-person event, as well as the website survey.

All written representations must be made via these channels and not to Glasgow City Council. Any comments made at this stage are to the prospective applicant and not representations to the planning authority.

A planning application will be submitted in the near future and there will be an opportunity to submit formal comments to Glasgow City Council on the proposal within the statutory consultation period.

Who do I contact if I require further information? 

Please do not hesitate to contact the design team on the following should you require further information: 

Email: highstreetgoodsyard@new-practice.co.uk

Telephone: 0141 343 9371

What makes Get Living different from other landlords in the private rented sector? 

We own every home we rent and the public spaces between them. Unlike other developers we do not leave once the last home is ‘sold’. We commit to our neighbourhoods for the long-term.

It is in our interests to create and maintain safe, vibrant, and well-managed city neighbourhoods. East Village is the perfect example of this. The neighbourhood opened in 2013, reaching full occupancy. We continue to support retailers, run local community events, employ a 24/7 security team and commission projects to see how the public space is working for residents and visitors and how we can enhance this space, based on its actual use.

On the rental side, our model allows us to offer a different experience to that from smaller scale landlords, we are a professional landlord, operating at scale, which means we can offer a better deal for renters. We don’t take a security deposit, don’t charge fees, and have a dedicated on-site management team available seven days a week, so residents can deal directly with us – not agents or middle men.

We have yet to set rental levels for Glasgow, but we will be providing accommodation to suit a range of budgets, and very much aimed at people who live and work in the city.

What is Build-to-Rent?

Build-to-Rent (BTR) is a relatively new model for creating new homes in the UK, but it is very popular in Europe and America, representing an additional channel to meet housing needs. 

All the properties are built for rent, not for sale. Residents are offered security of tenure, with the flexibility of renting and have access to wider on-site amenities, such as gyms and workspaces.

Is affordable housing proposed? 

There is no formal requirement for affordable housing on the site. However, these revised plans provide a truly intergenerational offer. 

Have you done any research into environmental impacts?

An Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Opinion has been lodged with Glasgow City Council to determine what environmental matters must be addressed as part of the planning process. It is important to the applicant that all relevant environmental impacts are assessed.

Site conditions, ecological surveys, flood and drainage assessments, air quality, wind assessment, and landscape plans are being prepared and will be submitted with the application. These studies are ongoing and feeding into the design process. 

Why has Get Living not implemented the existing consent? 

There is a strong case to revisit the scheme and diversifying the offer, building on learning from the pandemic to create a more community focused mixed-use development that will be sustainable and resilient for residents and the local community and economy. 

Based on this, key improvements to the design, landscape and quality of the scheme can be made, also serving to reduce impacts on neighbouring residential properties.

Is Get Living committed to delivering the development and why Glasgow? 

We have bought the site. It is not a conditional contract. We have every intention of building out the scheme for long term ownership and management, creating a neighbourhood of rented homes as we do at East Village and Elephant Central. 

Our ambition is to become the leading exemplar of Build to Rent in the UK, and as our first development outside England, Glasgow is really important to that ambition.

Is there a need for additional student accommodation in Glasgow? 

As noted in recent press, Scotland is facing a shortage of available accommodation and rising rents.

There are currently 3.3 students per available purpose-built bed space in Glasgow. Full time student numbers across Glasgow based on historic trends are projected to rise by 22% to 2024/25, whilst the development pipeline of consented student accommodation over the same period would struggle meet this increase in demand (based on all consented bed spaces in the pipeline). 

The student housing supply/demand imbalance is forecast to increase to 3.8 students per bed space, and as a result, would not reduce the current supply/demand imbalance and will continue to place unwanted pressure on the local private rented market.

The proposed student development will be a valuable addition to the student mix in Glasgow to address this shortfall.  

If consented, when would development commence? 

We hope to secure planning permission in the middle of 2022. Trusting achieved, site clearance is scheduled to commence early Q3 2022, with construction works scheduled to commence Q1 2023. 

Sequence and phasing are to be agreed and will be subject to agreement with Glasgow City Council.

Will the public be able to access the amenity spaces and commercial units?  

The quality of the new public realm and amenities will be a unique community resource. The development will not be gated but instead be available to be enjoyed by neighbours and visitors from across the city.

What is happening with the car park? 

We’re continuing to operate the car park in the short term, until we are able to start construction.

Is there enough car parking proposed? 

Planning is being submitted in accordance with Council transport and parking guidelines, with a view to ensuring adequate parking is either available on the development or there is an ability for residents to take advantage of under-utilised car parks locally via special discounted deals. Discussions are ongoing with the Council transport team on specific numbers.  

Glasgow City Council have already confirmed with the existing consent that residents who live on the new Get Living development will not fall into any already established Resident Parking Zones therefore residents locally should not be impacted.

How will the site be accessed? 

As per the existing consent, the primary vehicular access will come in from the north-west corner of the site (Blackfriars Road) whilst a secondary emergency access will be provided from Bell Street. 

What is the plan for shops, restaurants, and bars?

Given changing market conditions in the past 18 months the revised scheme allows us to opportunity to revisit the level of commercial offer. This process is ongoing although it is fair to assume the level of commercial and retail offer will be less than the existing consent. 

There are opportunities along key routes for commercial uses, fully open to the local community and will form part of the development mix.

How will the development approach sustainability?

A key aspect of the development will be the integration of sustainable design practices. 

Sustainability is a far-reaching topic that has been addressed within the development through; fabric first principles to reduce the site’s energy demand and where energy is required, we have looked to remove the reliance on fossil fuel from the entire energy mix of the development. These systems currently proposed operate on electricity, and with the National Grid decarbonisation, this means the site as a whole will be set on a path of zero carbon emissions by 2035 and zero onsite emissions during operation.

What are the next steps?

It is important to us that we gather valuable feedback and suggestions through this consultation process and meetings with stakeholders. This will inform the next stages of the design and planning process. 

The intention is to submit a planning application before year end.