Victorian era school in Glasgow to be turned into new homes

Napiershall Street School in the city's West End dates back to the Victorian era, first opening in 1900 and closing in the 1980s.

Now developer Kelvin Properties is working on converting the former classrooms into 24 apartments while preserving many of the building's key period features such as the central atrium and staircase. 

Historical photo of Napiershall Street School (Image: Kelvin Properties)

An additional storey will add four penthouses with large private terraces, and two children's play areas will be installed. 

Designed by architects Haus Collective, other features of the development will include ample bike storage and EV charging stations to encourage more environmentally friendly modes of transport.

Meanwhile, a large green lawn with an area for planting, rainwater gardens, swift bricks, and flowering plants will also promote biodiversity. 

Kelvin Properties, who purchased the site from City Property, also obtained planning permission earlier this year to build 25 more apartments in a new build on the same site.

Sales of the one, two and three-bedroom flats will launch in the spring of next year, while work is expected to be completed in early 2025.

Andrew Duncan, land director at Kelvin Properties, said: “This development is central to our mission to invest and build in Glasgow, turning former buildings on brownfield sites in and around the city centre into thriving residential communities where it’s viable to do so. 

“The retention and sensitive restoration of the school building are integral to our plans which were unanimously approved by Glasgow City Council and received tremendous feedback at the planning committee.

“While the former school is not a listed building, we feel strongly that retaining this excellent, structurally sound, building, is the right thing to do.

"We are restoring many of the old school’s features which made this building so special, while developing new high-quality outdoor spaces, including the rooftop garden that will be key to fostering a thriving community within the development.

“Given the shortage of supply in Glasgow’s West End, we expect there to be significant demand when sales launch early next year.”