ALMOST 500 build-to-rent homes that will include co-work space, residents' lounges, a gym and rooftop garden plots are planned for Clydeside.

The £90 million project at Central Quay is being led by Platform, which said it will provide high-quality, state-of-the-art homes.

The firms hopes to start construction of the apartments by the second quarter of 2019, with a scheduled completion date of summer 2021.

The homes will be built on part of the former Daily Record building site and sit next to the new Media Centre premises on the Glasgow waterfront if approved by planners.

The Herald:

The apartments will include studios, one, two and three-bedroom homes and shared amenities including a co-working space, a shared residents’ lounge, onsite-concierge, roof terraces, the gym and games room.

Co-working space involves the use of a shared office area for workers inlcuding those who are self-employed or partly working from home.

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Matt Willcock, development director at Platform, said: "All the schemes under the platform brand are targeted as a pure rental model with a co-working space at ground level and various places of amenity within the building.

"For our tenants it is very much living in the whole building, so using the communal land or communal area like the roof terrace to encourage community.

"The more people engage with the place they are living in, the more it makes sense having moved there, the more they are likely to renew their tenancy.

"We actively encourage a longer (tenancy) duration.

"It makes it a livelier place to live, and if people are enjoying living there then it is good for everybody."

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Initial planning was granted for the seven-acre Central Quay site at the beginning of 2018 following a masterplan formulated by Harbert Management Corporation and XLB Property, together with Keppie and LDA Design, now detailed permission is sought.

Designed in partnership with award-winning architects Keppie, the development forms part of a wider masterplan at the Clydeside Central Quay area, which also includes 300,000 sq ft of office space and a 150 room hotel.

Mr Willcock said the site is a prime location: "It is also the first thing you seen when you are coming in over the bridge.

"If you are looking down it is a bit of a missing tooth at the moment at the waterfront."

He said rent will reflect prices in the area.

He said: "Our general principle is that our apartments will be affordable for up to 60 per cent of the working population of whatever urban setting we are in.

“We are trying not to put any kind of premium on our apartments per se over and above what you might expect to rent a one or two bedroom in the West End.

"The differential for us is that we have a lot of amenity on site and there is more on offer, which makes it more vibrant to be living in.

"We do see ourselves as competing with the average prices available in our near surroundings.

"The amenities are very much targeting a co-working element on the ground floor and would be keen to provide a café."

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Mr Willcock said: "Glasgow is thriving, and our new development aims to provide accommodation which meets the demands of its growing, highly-skilled and modern workforce.

"Build-to-rent is a rapidly growing concept around the UK and we’re proud to offer one of the first developments in Scotland."

He declared: “The site will help further regenerate the Finnieston and Clydeside areas, providing award-winning building design and living space in the heart of a popular, well-connected part of the city.”

Richard MacDonald, who is director at Keppie Design, said: "The Platform Central Quay design has evolved to include an iconic feature tower which will greatly enhance the Clyde Waterfront and Glasgow’s skyline.

"The high quality public realm and design of the scheme will also significantly improve the area.

“We look forward to being able to play a role in sustaining Glasgow’s image as a destination city for living and working and being able to further contribute to Glasgow’s Clydeside regeneration drive.”