Glasgow City Council has granted approval for a new £95 million multi-use residential development, Collegelands Park, in the Calton area of Glasgow.

The plans include two new student accommodation blocks providing 591 beds, 147 rented apartments, a significant new park, and a contemporary arts centre.

The 2.5-acre park is designed to offer a much-needed green space for the city, incorporating meadows, orchards, seating areas, and spaces for exercise. The development is situated on the last remaining gap site within the popular Collegelands area. It is estimated that the construction phase will create 250 jobs.

Paul O'Donnell of Glasgow Enlightenment, the developers, commented: "It's fantastic that we are now able to start work on delivering the final piece of the Collegelands jigsaw, creating a completely new neighbourhood that will help enrich the Carlton area and help tackle Glasgow's urgent need for purpose-built student accommodation. The Collegelands regeneration project began over 20 years ago, so it's great news for the city that it's now moving toward completion, bringing new residents and much-needed amenities to the area. We're grateful for the support of Glasgow City Council and pleased that they share our vision for the future of this community. The ongoing support from local residents has been central to the success of this project, and we sincerely appreciate their involvement. From the very beginning, they've played a vital role in shaping the plans and actively participating in the consultation process to ensure the development becomes not only a great place to live, but also a positive addition for the whole community."

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Central to the development will be a new arts facility, being built by the charity Dream Machine Productions. This new venue at Collegelands Park will provide hireable event space, a community lounge, and a café. It will open out to a courtyard featuring "Happy to Chat" benches, free Wi-Fi, charging points, and spaces designed to encourage outdoor remote working. Dream Machine Productions is actively seeking funding for the building, with a five-year plan focused on achieving financial self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on external support.

The broader Collegelands regeneration project, first launched in 2004, is recognised as one of Scotland's most successful mixed-use developments, already featuring a thriving community, a new Moxy hotel, offices, homes, and shops.

Graeme Bone of Glasgow Enlightenment added: "Collegelands Park will play a key role in the further regeneration of Calton, building on all the hard work done over the past 20 years to transform the area. We're excited to begin turning the vision for Collegelands Park into reality and are hopeful it will serve as a catalyst for future developments in the area."