Key Worker Flats Near Royal Infirmary, Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Developers have submitted plans to Glasgow City Council for permission to build almost 170 studio flats targeted at key workers on empty land at Wishart Street, near Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
• The proposed development includes 168 studios, each equipped with a small kitchen, bed space, seating area, storage, and en-suite bathroom.
• Additional amenities comprise a ground-floor communal kitchen, dining areas, working desks, a shared laundry area, and a roof terrace offering views across the Necropolis and towards Glasgow Cathedral.
• Developers state the project responds to an identified demand, particularly for NHS staff, by providing well-located, affordable homes within a short walking distance of the Royal Infirmary.
• The scheme aims to support NHS recruitment and retention amid rising rental costs, workforce pressures, and a shortage of suitable housing for shift workers near major hospitals.
• The application emphasises that existing housing options around the Royal Infirmary are limited, often unaffordable, and not well-suited to the needs of rotational or shift-based staff.
• The project is described as supporting regeneration priorities and preventing ongoing vacancy on the site.
• Pre-application public consultation events have been held, including an exhibition at Wasps Hanson Street Studios on Tuesday, 2nd September 2025, between 2pm and 6pm, with consultation boards available online.
• The developer behind the proposal is CCP KWH 3 Limited, with planning notices published under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013.
• A similar, smaller proposal for 79 flats by Calmont Group was unveiled in 2021 on the same site, highlighting long-standing interest in key worker accommodation there.
• Ground-floor uses could potentially include Class 1a (shops), Class 3 (food and drink), or Class 11 (assembly and leisure), alongside the key worker housing classified as sui generis.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) March 28, 2026 – Developers have lodged plans with Glasgow City Council to transform vacant land at Wishart Street into nearly 170 studio flats specifically for key workers, located just a short walk from the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The proposal, spearheaded by CCP KWH 3 Limited, promises affordable, well-equipped housing to meet surging demand among NHS staff facing high rents and limited options near the hospital. This initiative arrives amid ongoing housing pressures in the city, with the site poised to support regeneration while aiding healthcare recruitment.

What Is the Proposed Development at Wishart Street?

The core of the plan involves erecting 168 studio flats on the empty plot at 148-160 Wishart Street, in close proximity to the Royal Infirmary and the historic Necropolis cemetery.

Each studio would feature a compact yet functional layout, including a small kitchen, dedicated bed space, seating area, ample storage, and an en-suite bathroom, catering directly to the lifestyles of shift workers. As outlined in the planning documentation, ground-floor facilities would extend to a communal kitchen, dining spaces, co-working desks, and a shared laundry room, fostering a supportive living environment for residents.

A standout feature is the roof terrace, designed to provide residents with panoramic views across the Necropolis and towards Glasgow Cathedral, enhancing the appeal of urban living near key amenities. Developers have also flagged potential ground-floor commercial uses under Class 1a (retail shops), Class 3 (restaurants and cafes), or Class 11 (assembly and leisure spaces), alongside the primary sui generis key worker housing. This multi-purpose approach aims to activate the street level while prioritising housing for essential workers.

Why Do Developers Say There Is Demand for This Housing?

Developers assert that the project directly addresses a pressing need for affordable accommodation tailored to NHS personnel and other key workers. According to the application submitted to Glasgow City Council,

“Demand for key worker accommodation in Glasgow has increased significantly in recent years, driven by pressures on NHS workforce recruitment, rising rental costs, and a shortage of affordable homes within walking distance of major hospitals.”

They highlight that current options near the Royal Infirmary are “limited, often unaffordable, and not well suited to the needs of shift workers or rotational staff.”

As reported by STV News in their coverage of the plans, the scheme would

“provide well-located, affordable homes” within easy reach of the hospital, responding to an “identified demand”, particularly for NHS staff. The developers further note that this development

“directly supports regeneration priorities and prevents ongoing vacancy”

on the brownfield site, aligning with broader city goals. By offering furnished flats with flexible tenancy lengths, the project is positioned as ideal for the demographic of hospital workers requiring inner-city convenience.

How Does This Support NHS Recruitment and Retention?

The proposal explicitly links the housing to bolstering the NHS workforce in Glasgow. Developers argue that proximity to the Royal Infirmary—just a short walk away—would ease recruitment challenges for hospital roles, where staff often relocate or work irregular hours.

“This directly supports NHS recruitment and retention,”

states the planning application, underscoring how affordable, purpose-built studios could retain vital personnel amid national staffing shortages.

STV News quoted the application as emphasising that the development responds to “pressures on NHS workforce recruitment” exacerbated by soaring rents and scant suitable housing stock. This is not a new concern; a 2021 proposal by Calmont Group for 79 apartments on the same Wishart Street site similarly targeted Royal Infirmary staff, citing the need for

“much-needed affordable and flexible private rental flats”

suited to key workers. That earlier plan, which included a seven-storey build-to-rent block with amenity spaces, co-working areas, a roof terrace, and landscaped gardens, signalled enduring demand in the area.

What Public Consultation Has Taken Place?

CCP KWH 3 Limited has adhered to pre-application requirements under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 by hosting public events.

A key consultation event occurred at Wasps Hanson Street Studios, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow G31 2HF, on Tuesday, 2nd September 2025, from 2pm to 6pm, where attendees could view proposals and question the development team. Consultation boards were made available online via a dedicated website hosted by Montagu Evans at the time of the event.

Additional notices confirm ongoing pre-application engagement for the major proposal at 148-160 Wishart Street, described as

“Erection of key worker housing (sui generis) with potential ground floor uses (class 1a, class 3, class 11) and associated ancillary works.”

These steps ensure community input before any formal submission to Glasgow City Council, reflecting standard procedure for significant urban developments.

What Is the History of Development Interest on This Site?

Interest in repurposing Wishart Street dates back at least to 2021, when Calmont Group unveiled plans for 79 apartments in a seven-storey block aimed squarely at Royal Infirmary staff.

Scottish Housing News reported that the consultation had begun ahead of a planning application, with the scheme promising furnished, flexible rentals ideal for hospital workers and urban dwellers. Amenities mirrored the current proposal, including ground-floor co-working spaces, a roof terrace, private balconies, and landscaped gardens.

The site’s persistence as vacant land underscores its potential for regeneration, as noted in the latest application. While the 2021 plan appears not to have advanced to construction—paving the way for CCP KWH 3 Limited’s larger vision—the continuity highlights sustained recognition of housing needs near the Infirmary. Glasgow Live initially covered the fresh 2026 proposal, noting developers’ request to council for the 170-studio project on the same empty plot.

Who Are the Key Players Involved?

CCP KWH 3 Limited leads the current effort, handling pre-application consultations and poised to submit the major planning application. Glasgow City Council serves as the decision-making authority, evaluating the scheme against local policies on housing, regeneration, and urban density.

The Royal Infirmary, as the primary beneficiary through staff housing, stands to gain indirectly, though no direct NHS endorsement is cited in available reports.

Earlier, Calmont Group drove the 2021 initiative, as detailed by Scottish Housing News, focusing on build-to-rent models for key workers. Planning consultants like Montagu Evans have supported public engagement, hosting the consultation website. No specific journalists are named in primary sources, but coverage spans STV News, Glasgow Live, Scottish Housing News, and public notice portals.

What Could This Mean for Glasgow’s Housing Landscape?

If approved, the development could set a precedent for targeted key worker housing in hospital vicinities across Scotland’s largest city. By tackling affordability and location barriers, it addresses intertwined crises in NHS staffing and urban housing supply. Critics might question the studio-only format’s long-term viability or impacts on local character near the Necropolis, though developers frame it as vacancy-ending regeneration.