Glasgow City Council has officially granted planning permission for the delivery of 46 modern social rent homes on the site of the former Queen's Park School on Grange Road.

This decision marks a major step forward in the ongoing regeneration of the Southside of Glasgow.

The project, managed by Sanctuary Scotland, will see a long-vacant brownfield site converted into high-quality, energy-efficient accommodation specifically designed for residents over the age of 55. The development will feature lift access and apartments tailored to various needs.

The land has been empty since 2019, having previously served as a car park following the demolition of the original school buildings between 1995 and 2006. This new development aims to provide affordable housing in a district where social rent options are scarce and market prices remain high.

The approved scheme consists of two five-storey blocks and a third building featuring four wings that range between five and seven storeys. In addition to the 46 social rent units, the plans include a private communal garden, 14 car parking spaces, and green space accessible to the public. Planners noted the site's high accessibility to public transport, aligning the project with Scotland's National Planning Framework 4, which encourages sustainable development and reduced car dependency.

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These new homes are a component of the broader Victoria Hospital site regeneration masterplan. This wider initiative by Sanctuary Scotland has already introduced hundreds of homes across various tenures to the Battlefield area, alongside new streets and public realm enhancements. The Grange Road project complements this by offering affordable housing specifically for older residents.

Located near local heritage sites such as the historic battlefield and Battlefield Rest, the development was confirmed by planning officers to have no significant negative impact on the historic setting. Sanctuary Scotland has also embraced suggestions to incorporate public art within the new green spaces to celebrate local history.

Originally approved for 36 units in February 2024, the revised plans increase the density to 46 homes. Planners concluded that the additional 10 flats would not adversely affect local services or amenities.

Gillian Lavety, Development Director for Sanctuary Homes Scotland, said: "This is a hugely positive step forward for Sanctuary Scotland and for Glasgow. We are proud to be delivering 46 high-quality, energy-efficient amenity homes for social rent in an area of the city where affordable housing is in very short supply.

"These new homes will provide comfort, security and independence for older residents, while helping to address the wider housing crisis facing Glasgow. By transforming a long-vacant brownfield site into sustainable homes with excellent public transport connections and attractive green space, this development will make a lasting contribution to the regeneration of the former Victoria Hospital masterplan and the wider battlefield community."

Work is expected to commence once planning conditions are finalised. Sanctuary Scotland is a member of Sanctuary, one of the largest social housing and care providers in the UK, managing over 125,000 homes.