A FORMER school in Glasgow’s West End is to be turned into student accommodation.

The city’s planning applications committee today agreed to the conversion of the old Woodside School at 333 Woodlands Road.  A rooftop extension will form part of the development and the grounds will be landscaped.

Above, how the building is expected to look, and below, its current appearance

The building is currently used as offices by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC). The comedy club venue on the ground floor will continue.

The loft-style student accommodation will comprise 71 bed spaces, most of them studios with kitchen areas, living/study spaces and en-suite shower/toilet rooms.

The lower ground floor of the property will house amenity facilities including a cinema room, communal lounge, study and laundry. A sculpture inspired by the structure’s previous uses is to be included in the grounds.

Above, how the building is expected to look, and below, its current appearance

The building is located on a triangular island site bounded by Woodlands Road, Park Road and Eldon Street among a number of landmark structures including the B-listed St Silas Church and the B-listed former Woodlands Public School, now a public house.

No car parking will be provided for the student accommodation although there will be four  spaces for the adjacent dance school, which has parking rights under a historic deed arrangement.

The committee heard that nothing could be done to influence preservation of the building’s interior as it was not listed although councillors welcome that the structure was being saved for future use.

When the application was submitted it was for 79-bed student accommodation with a two-storey roof extension but, following negotiations with city planners, the proposal was amended.