Santander submits plans for Glasgow office refurb

Santander UK has submitted plans to refurbish its 310,000 sq ft office building in Glasgow. The bank has lodged plans, alongside its development partner Osborne+Co, to Glasgow City Council to refurbish 301 St Vincent Street to create a fully ESG compliant grade-A office. Plans include the phased renovation of the building to enhance the space that Santander occupies, as well as to provide up to 200,000 sq ft of space to let for new occupiers. The space would be offered on a floor-by-floor basis or on a vertical split of the building to suit occupiers. This will include new facades and an all-electric heating and cooling system to help the building be carbon neutral. Santander, which alongside its predecessors has owned and occupied this building for over 30 years, will remain as the anchor tenant. This follows Santander’s move to its new 500,000 sq ft headquarters at Unity Place in Milton Keynes, which opened in September 2023. Santander UK head of property Nick Roberts said: “The scale of the opportunity at 301 St. Vincent Street will allow us to offer a similarly vibrant destination, and level of amenity for occupiers, as we have achieved in our new headquarters in Milton Keynes. “The reception, ground floor and lower ground floor will be substantially remodelled to accommodate flexible, co-working and office space together with conferencing and meeting spaces.” Osborne+Co director and head of Scotland Will Hean said: “As an existing building, we have a huge opportunity here to set a new benchmark, by creating one of the most sustainable office buildings of its size in Scotland. “With every corporate tenant focused on their carbon reduction, one of the great benefits to occupiers here will be the embodied carbon saving. Our sustainability consultants calculate a circa 45% carbon reduction compared to the construction of an equivalent new build.” The project team for the proposed refurbishment include architects LOM, engineering consultants Cundall, and planning consultants Porter Planning. Check out planning decisions in Glasgow >> Image © LOM/Santander