Proposals to demolish a former Marks & Spencer store in the city centre to make way for student accommodation have been thrown out by Glasgow councillors. 

An application to knock down the 1935 unlisted building on Sauchiehall Street and develop the new homes as well as shops in its place has been refused because of the “over-concentration” of student accommodation at the site. 

The bid also sparked four letters of support and 12 objections with people worried about the height of the replacement building, which partly rises to 17 storeys.

If successful, the building would have been five and eight storeys facing onto Sauchiehall Street.

On Renfrew Street, the property would reach 11 and 18 storeys and it would also have been used for short-stay accommodation outside academic term time.

During Tuesday’s planning meeting, councillors raised mixed views on the development proposals. 

Bailie Elaine Gallagher said: “While I am concerned about the proliferation of student accommodation, I am slightly more reassured this is a premise that could be put into other uses – for example apart-hotel.

“ I believe that [with] a big box store like the M&S that left us a year ago – I don’t think the economic situation is going to allow for those to prosper and I think that having more of the small retail spaces will be an improvement rather than have these big premises stand derelict.

“I would like the developers to look harder at the possibility of mainstream accommodation on this site so I am going to reject it and ask them to look further at this.”

But other councillors were in favour of the plans as they felt there wasn’t an alternative for the site. 

Councillor Imran Alam said: “I am in huge favour and support of this application purely because I don’t see any other potential attractive propositions for that site for example accommodation for families or couples with young children.

“I think a student site will probably be ideal. The fact that the planner has ten sites in the UK in prominent places means they clearly know what they are doing. A lot of consultation has been carried out.

“The fact that international students are bringing in almost £300 million to the local economy in that part of the city centre and the so-called golden Z is part of the long-term plans to regenerate it.

“I think this will go a long way to do that. I think this is a good site and I am happy to back it.”

Following the debate there was a 50/50 split on whether to approve the plans but chair Bailie Elaine Gallagher had the deciding vote and refused the application.