Cheshire property group acquires Glasgow landmark

Alderley Edge-headquartered property group, Vita Group, has announced it has acquired the Met Tower, one of Glasgow’s most iconic landmarks.

The developer plans to redevelop the building, which has been vacant for over a decade, and bring its Union co-living concept to Scotland for the first time. The Union model enables individuals, couples and small groups to access shared amenities and a connected community, while offering a flexible range of apartment sizes.

Vita Group’s plans for the Met Tower aim to support Glasgow’s growing population and ongoing rejunevation of its city centre. The local city council aims to double the city centre’s residential population by 2035 by repurposing underused buildings and developing mixed-use neighbourhoods.

Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said:

This is fantastic news for the future of a listed Glasgow landmark – and for the ongoing transformation of our city centre.  And I’m delighted with this vote of confidence in a city centre where more and more people are choosing to live and invest.

“Vita’s plans will bring what is an emerging accommodation concept to Glasgow, one that’s been successful elsewhere and which can meet the needs of many younger residents. 

“When it first opened in the early 1960s, the Met Tower was a symbol of a new and modern Glasgow. I look forward to it once again becoming a potent symbol of our changing city centre.”

The Cheshire-based group is now working on preparing detailed plans for the Glasgow landmark, and will include high-quality communal spaces and improved connections between structures and the surrounding streets. Plans for the Met Tower sit alongside Vita Group’s other investments in Scotland, which include completed schemes providing over 1,000 beds for students and young professionals, with a pipeline of another 1,200 beds underway.

Max Bielby, Chief Operating Officer of Vita Group, said,

“Glasgow is a city with exceptional energy, creativity, and talent, and the Met Tower is an iconic part of its skyline. We see a real opportunity to explore how our Union concept could bring much-needed accommodation to the heart of the city, supporting its employment base, culture, and social scene.

“We have a long history of delivering projects that work for Scotland, and we’re committed to working in partnership with Glasgow to develop plans that respond to its priorities and breathe new life into a building that has historically been an engine of opportunity for young people.”