UK: A report co-authored by the University of Glasgow has warned that thousands of students are at risk of homelessness, estimating a shortfall of more than 6,000 beds in the city.
Glasgow has struggled to keep up with rising demand, despite nearly 6,000 student rooms being delivered over the past decade. Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) shows that the student population has grown by more than 20,000 in the last 10 years, exacerbating the housing crisis. In response, Glasgow City Council has approved plans for an additional 3,222 student beds.
Projects currently under construction include a 26-storey housing block in Anderston for 410 students and a 36-storey development near Charing Cross, set to accommodate 784 students. The developer of the latter, Watkin Jones, stated that the property will help address a “chronic undersupply” of student accommodation and free up homes more suitable for families.
However, city centre residents have raised concerns about the number of student flats being built in the area. In November 2024, 60 objections were filed against a proposed 19-storey student building, which critics described as excessive. Despite the objections, the project was approved.
Professor James White, a planning and urban design professor at the University of Glasgow, said: “A lot of the student developments are on the periphery of Glasgow city centre, where the residential population is relatively low. These developments bring young people and commerce to these areas, so, in a sense, it’s positive for the neighbourhoods.”
However, he also warned about the long-term risks of over-reliance on the student population: “We need a mix of different housing in the city centre. Right now, it’s skewed towards students. How easy will it be to repurpose these buildings in the future? If we’re not also building parks and schools, it will be difficult for families to move in, as they won’t have the facilities they need.”
With rents rising rapidly, Glasgow declared a housing emergency in 2023. The City Council has urged the owners of 2,500 vacant properties to bring them back into use.
Glasgow’s city centre population has grown by one-third over the past decade and now stands at just over 28,000. In 2019, the council approved a City Centre Living Strategy, aiming to boost the residential population to 40,000 by 2035. The strategy highlights that increasing population density contributes to the area’s sustainability and economic success.
