Plans submitted to transform former Glasgow presbytery into student accommodation

A former home for priests at a Glasgow church could be turned into student accommodation under a new plan.

Glasgow City Council has received a bid to convert the empty presbytery opposite St Roch’s Catholic Church. The application, from restaurateur Hajar Salih, follows local speculation that the property could be used as temporary accommodation for homeless people.

It states the building – next to St Roch’s Primary School – would offer 13 student bedrooms with en-suite facilities. A communal kitchen, dining room, gym and library/study room are also proposed.

Plans, submitted by the applicant’s agent Padrino Design, add meetings between Glasgow councillors, the applicant and community organisations were held over the summer. The owners “stalled their thought process in order that any community groups could bring proposals, supported by a business case, for consideration”.

They state: “Entering the autumn, with nothing coming forward, this application has been formulated by the applicants. The proposal is to repurpose the building to provide purpose built student accommodation.”

The 12 apartment villa, known as St Roch’s Presbytery, was built to house parish priests, housekeeping staff and visiting members of the clergy.

“A century and a quarter later the building stands empty with some recent decay taking place,” the application states.

“The internals of the building are being stripped back to structure and recreated using modern insulation techniques to bring the fabric up to 21st century standards.”

Occupation of the accommodation would be restricted to those “attending bona fide further education”, the plans continue, adding the building is just over one mile from Glasgow Caledonian and Strathclyde universities.

It was last used by the charity Royston Youth Action.