Glasgow’s iconic Met Tower is to be turned into flats

The Met Tower has been bought by a property developer who is planning on introducing a new concept of living to the city.

Transcript

00:00The Met Tower which looms over George Square with its huge iconic People Make Glasgow graphic is

00:05to be turned into flats. The building has been sold to a property developer who intends to

00:09transform it into a union co-living space following a recent development they carried

00:13out in Manchester. The site was previously part of the city's College of Printing before being

00:19passed on to the Glasgow Metropolitan College. It was vacated over 10 years ago and has stood

00:24vacant ever since. Plans to turn the site into a tech hub recently fell through while other

00:29proposals seeking to turn it into offices, homes and hotel accommodation never worked out.

00:34The Tower is now in the hands of the Vita Group who say their plan will support a new community

00:39of city centre professionals and boost the local economy. They said the union model enables

00:45individuals, couples and small groups to select the apartment size that best suits their needs

00:51while providing access to shared amenities designed to foster vibrant connected communities.

00:57They explained that this new scheme aligns with the council's strategy to double the residential

01:01population in Glasgow by 2035, repurposing underused buildings and developing vibrant mixed-use

01:08neighbourhoods. Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said she was delighted with the news

01:13and for the future of an A-listed Glasgow landmark. She said that the plans will bring an emerging

01:18accommodation concept for Glasgow that's been successful elsewhere and can meet the needs of many

01:23younger residents. When the Met Tower opened in the early 1960s it was a symbol of a new and modern Glasgow.

01:30The approach will emulate Union Manchester which opened earlier this year

01:35with more than 1,600 co-living beds and shared spaces including co-working areas, a residence bar,

01:41wellness facilities and social lounges.