Glasgow council approves plans to turn former nightclub Archaos into student flats

Plans to turn Glasgow’s former nightclub Archaos into student accommodation have been approved by the city’s planning committee.

The development, which was initially proposed two years ago, will see the Grade A listed building substantially demolished (with only the facade kept intact), to make room for a 14-storey building housing 197 student flats, a cinema, a gym, a games lounge, and a rental unit for commercial use on the ground floor.

Archaos nightclub closed its doors at 21-41 Queen Street in 2007 after 12 years. The property has been empty since 2010 when its owners went into liquidation, and has fallen into "a state of disrepair", according to developers. It's not currently known when the approved demolition plans will go ahead.

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Developers Carrick Properties and CA Ventures said the development would bring "positive, high-quality regeneration to a largely vacant site", and will help to resolve the shortage of student housing in the city.

In a report to given to councillors ahead of the hearing, officials said the project will “deliver economic development benefits within the city centre through investment in the built fabric, increased population, and the creation of employment opportunities”.

During the late '90s, Archaos was a staple of Glasgow’s buzzing nightlife, renowned for its wild parties, under-18s nights and unusual layout across three storeys, centred around a circular dancefloor with overlooking balconies.

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Amongst its crowd of student revellers and dance music lovers, the club occasionally attracted well-known celebrities such as Charlie Sheen and Paul Gascoigne, who were spotted on the dancefloor in 1997.

Archaos also hosted an episode on Top of the Pops in 1999 – which marked the first time the show was filmed outside of London in more than thirty years.

Meena Sears is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram