Reigart Contracts has begun work at the Elmbank Gardens site after being appointed by CXG Glasgow to demolish two buildings dating back to the 1960s. The clearance works will unlock phase one of a 730,000 sq ft mixed-use development spanning Elmbank Gardens and Tay House on Bath Street.
The initial phase will deliver a 750-bed purpose-built student accommodation scheme on the corner of Bath Street and Newton Street, immediately adjacent to Charing Cross station.
Outline planning permission for the wider Charing Cross Gateway development was granted in late 2024, with a detailed planning application for phase one submitted in May 2025. Glasgow City Council issued a ‘mind to grant’ decision in December.
Due to the site’s constrained city-centre location, demolition could only commence after securing approvals from both the council and Network Rail.
Designed by Michael Laird Architects, the masterplan seeks to reconnect a previously lost section of the urban fabric while establishing a new western gateway into Glasgow city centre. Future phases are expected to deliver 450 residential apartments, 14,000 sq m of office space and a new health centre.
Andrew Richardson, managing director of development at ESR DevCo, said the start of demolition marks a significant milestone for an area of the city that has lacked momentum in recent years.
Mark Tracey, director at Tracey Investments, added that the scheme will play a key role in addressing Glasgow’s student accommodation shortfall while delivering one of the city’s most architecturally striking PBSA developments.
Demolition and site clearance are scheduled to be completed by August 2026, enabling construction works to commence shortly thereafter.