CA Ventures Unveil 'Archoas' Development Proposal

Real estate investor CA Ventures has unveiled its proposals for the redevelopment of the former Archoas nightclub site on Queen Street in Glasgow.

CA Ventures have proposed  a high-quality, purpose-built, managed student accommodation on what is currently a derelict and highly complex site. This will provide active ground floor uses, which may include retail or commercial uses. 

Following a detailed economic viability study, and due to the constraints on the site itself, student accommodation is seen as the viable route for redevelopment and will aim to accommodate circa 230 students with fully serviced apartments and state-of-the-art amenity facilities.

This second consultation event will be held on Thursday 1st December (2pm-6 pm) at the former Bowery Bar on Queen Street which neighbours the nightclub.

It follows a first consultation event held on 2nd November, and feedback from this and through other meetings has been used to shape these updated proposals where possible.

The proposed development could generate around 250 construction jobs, including direct on-site jobs and jobs in the construction supply chain. This could be worth more than £10m to the Glasgow economy during the construction phase. 


 Serving to address a recognised shortage of student accommodation in the city, the public will have the chance to view proposals and provide feedback at this event.

The Archaos nightclub, which closed its doors in 2007 and has lain vacant since. It is in extremely poor condition and does not offer sufficient floor area or a suitable internal layout to provide a viable development opportunity for commercial or residential use. 

 Previous proposals to open the building as a nightclub and later as an office scheme floundered on the considerable costs required to refurbish a building that had deteriorated considerably over the years.  

 Redevelopment of the site will act as a catalyst for regeneration in this part of the City Centre. The site is within walking distance of Strathclyde University, Caledonian University, and the City of Glasgow College. 

 Proposals will see a planning application submitted hopefully towards the end of the year. If planning permissions is approved, the intention is for work to start on-site in 2023. The targeted entry date will serve the beginning of the academic year in August 2025. 

 CA Ventures has a proven track record of delivering sustainable buildings. An array of renewable and energy-saving technologies will be installed to minimise the carbon footprint created both during construction and when occupied.  

 A representative from CA Ventures said: "We are delighted to meet with the community in our second engagement event. Very helpful and constructive feedback has been received through the first event and our website, and we have aimed to incorporate this into the proposals where possible.

"These exciting proposals represent a significant investment in Glasgow and will serve to regenerate a currently derelict site. It will serve to provide much-needed student accommodation in a building that has lain empty since 2007 and which, due to its condition, provides limited options for redevelopment.  

 "During a well-documented shortage of purpose-built student accommodation, potential students have no choice but to explore rental properties , which adds to the already significant strain on housing stock. 

 "We envisage this site as a perfect opportunity to add to the vibrant community of students currently living in central Glasgow, benefitting local shops. "