PLANS to increase the population of Glasgow City Centre by thousands move forward next week with the demolition of a landmark building.

The old Strathclyde Police HQ building in Pitt Street is coming down to make way for a build to rent development of flats for up to 1000 people.

The site will be cleared and replaced with a mix of studios and one to three-bedroom apartments across four buildings from six to 22 storeys.

The Moda Development is one of several that are part of a long-term strategy designed to bring new people to live in the city centre to increase the population to 40,000 by 2030.

Glasgow has a lower city centre residential population than other European cities of a similar size.

As the nature of the city centre changes with retail industry closures leaving empty units, growing the population is hoped to give the streets a new purpose.

The council appointed a team three years ago to help develop a city centre living strategy to boost the numbers.

It is looking at where is best for new residential developments and if commercial and office buildings could be converted into homes.

Other major developments include the Buchanan Wharf plan on the south bank of the Clyde in Tradeston, just a walk across the squiggly bridge to the city centre.

The Parish Halls in George Street overlooking George Square has planning permission for housing and the Get Living development in High Street has been approved for more than 600 homes for rent.

Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said the new developments will attract new people to live in the centre of the city.

She said: “The city centre in Glasgow is changing to meet changing trends and demands in retail, leisure and housing, and our City Centre Living Strategy is key to our wider plans that will ensure that the area retains its position and becomes an even more attractive location for people to live, work and study in.

“It is exciting to see the schemes that are either underway or will soon come to the city centre, and they reflect the different needs and expectations we now have for city centre living.

“Some of these developments are at the cutting-edge of housing provision in Scotland and will play a crucial role in attracting people from all demographics to the city centre, including families, and provide homes for those who wish to buy and rent.”

The council is redesigning some key streets to prioritise pedestrians over cars and make the city centre more attractive for people.

Glasgow city centre population is less dense than other cities.

The city has 4,700 people per sq km and council planners have found that other comparable cities are denser, like Danish capital Copenhagen with 5,600. Rotterdam in Netherlands 6,500, Irish capital Dublin,9,200 and the largest Dutch city, Amsterdam 13,500.

The 2030 target for Glasgow is a population density of 6,700.

It is hoped that the new large scale developments will attract others to invest in building property for rent or sale in the city centre.

The Moda Development, called Holland Park, bordering Pitt Street Holland Street West George Street and West Regent Street is hoped will boost the regeneration of the west side of the city centre close to Sauchiehall Street, which has suffered economically with the two fires at the Art School and the Victoria’s nightclub blaze.

The Barclays Buchanan Wharf development will include 300 homes among office and commercial space on the river front.

The Get Living development will transform derelict land to the east of High Street connecting the city centre with the east end at Duke street and bringing in more people to an area long in need of regeneration.

The George Street development which includes the grandeur of the Parish Halls and other listed buildings, will create new homes in the heart of the city centre.

New Gorbals Housing Association is also developing phase two of the Laurieston Living development or almost 200 homes, with Urban Union, just a walk across the river Clyde from the city centre.