The B-listed high-rise on North Hanover Street – famous for its fading pink-and-white People Make Glasgow sign – has stood empty for more than a decade. Originally opened in 1964 as the College of Building and Printing, and later part of Glasgow Metropolitan College, the tower has long been a prominent fixture on the city’s skyline.

Vita Group, which already operates purpose-built student accommodation in Glasgow, plans to bring its ‘Union’ co-living concept to Scotland for the first time. The model, already launched in Manchester, offers residents fully serviced apartments with access to a range of shared amenities such as co-working areas, social lounges, wellness facilities, and bars – all designed to foster a connected, vibrant community.

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 bring much-needed accommodation to the heart of the city, supporting its employment base, culture, and social scene. We’re committed to working in partnership with Glasgow to breathe new life into a building that has historically been an engine of opportunity for young people.”

The plans come as Glasgow City Council pushes to double the city centre population by 2035. The redevelopment of the Met Tower is seen as a key part of that vision.

Council Leader Susan Aitken welcomed the deal: “This is fantastic news for the future of a listed Glasgow landmark and for the ongoing transformation of our city centre. 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 project replaces previous stalled proposals to turn the site into a “science city” hub. Vita’s acquisition also comes alongside their ownership of the former O2 ABC site on Sauchiehall Street, which remains the subject of a planning dispute.

Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for Housing, Development, Built Heritage and Land Use, said the move shows the city’s efforts to attract quality residential investment are paying off:

“Over a decade since its closure, it’s great to see a developer with a track record of success like Vita offering a solution for the future of the Met Tower. Glaswegians will be delighted to see new uses and new purposes for well-known older buildings.”

Vita’s Manchester Union scheme opened earlier this year with over 1,600 co-living beds and extensive communal spaces – a model the developer hopes will thrive in Glasgow’s dynamic urban centre.

Detailed proposals for the Met Tower will be shared with the public in due course, but the developer has already signalled its intent to revitalise the landmark, enhance the surrounding streetscape, and reconnect the building with the heart of the city.