Today we released a report that found that Glasgow City Council are systematically failing to implement the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) that requires a minimum requirement of 25% affordable housing in new developments. The result is a city centre that is becoming unaffordable for most, risk for greater socio-economic segregation across the city, and a worsening housing crisis across the city. Read our report below for more.
Living Rent has recorded all planning permissions lodged between March 2023 and February 2025. We found that the number of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) units and Build-to-Rent (BtR) developments vastly outstrip affordable or social housing. In addition, the research showed that Glasgow City Council has consistently exempted new private developments from the 25% affordable homes requirement or from providing ‘commuted sums’ instead of affordable homes.
We believe that this deliberate political choice will lead to increased gentrification of Glasgow’s city centre and is prioritising the needs and profits of corporate developers rather than the people of Glasgow.
Read our full report here:
