Fri Jun 14, 2019 11:01 pm
There is an interesting planning application from the developers of the nearly finished student accommodation next to the Gaiety building on City Road. Application is for a permanent change of use to non-student residential, not just for the 1st year.
The planning officers are recommending committee refuse this request and are scathing in their report (in committee next week)
A few interesting points:
- developer says there is an over provision of private student accommodation and their scheme will become unviable. The council says as universities increase their proportion of overseas students who want this accommodation, demand could well be there.
- developer says 3000 beds worth of student accommodation has been approved but won’t proceed. Council says only 1 application has been withdrawn and 1 developer gone into administration
- developer wants permanent change of use and to also not make any s106 or other contributions as this also would not make the scheme viable
- the list of reasons why the officers want to refuse is long: lack of external amenity space, insufficient cycle space, poor quality outlook, insufficient privacy between flats, lack of windows for natural light and that ultimately it is not a well designed quality scheme for residential (although perfectly adequate for students)
Good to see the Planning Dept making a clear message on this