Glasgow charity awaits green light for new home

A GLASGOW charity is awaiting the green light for its new home to aid its ambitions to help the city become the “most successful” social enterprise centre in the world.

Glasgow Social Enterprise Network (GSEN) has announced its intentions to move, pending approvals, to a new development on the site of Portculllis House at Charing Cross.

A planning application by Watkin Jones Group for student homes at the former HMRC building on India Street, is set to be determined at the Council’s planning applications committee today.

If consented, the new development will be called The Àrd, with GSEN taking up residence and aiming to support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The GSEN team brings together over 270 social enterprises and organisations that support its work with students from Glasgow’s universities.

The charity say they have a vision for Glasgow to be the most successful and innovative centre of social enterprise in the world.

GSEN includes organisations that tackle poverty, provide business services, deliver housing and provide training.

GSEN will occupy a ground floor unit free of charge and will use the space for a variety of purposes.

This includes providing training opportunities for both social enterprises and students, as well as delivering a tech recycling programme, offering free or low-cost tech and serving to reduce tech waste.

Proposals overall will see the regeneration of this brownfield site, partially demolishing the existing building and proposing the part-retention of the existing concrete frame.

Jennifer Robertson, director GSEN, said: “As we expand our operations, the provision of a new multi-function space for GSEN at The Àrd is a fantastic opportunity to deliver even greater support to the communities that need us most supporting our ambition to be the most successful and innovative centre of social enterprise in the world.

“Working with the five universities in Glasgow, this could not be a better home for us, providing excellent access to the city’s extensive student population.

“Providing opportunities for social enterprises and their work with students, there is a clear synergy here, and The Àrd will support the delivery of the next generation of entrepreneurs and social and environmental innovators.”

On completion, it is estimated that the new resident population will spend an estimated £3.4m per annum in retail and leisure expenditure, the majority of which will be spent locally.

Iain Smith, planning director of Watkin Jones, said: “Should the planning application be granted, we look forward to welcome GSEN to The Àrd, supporting the delivery of the next generation of entrepreneurs, and working with those students living in the building.

“The redevelopment of the site, regenerating a current brownfield location, will form a significant part of an overall renewal of the west end of the city centre, acting as a catalyst for change and enhancing the vitality of this part of the city.”