Student flats plan approved for empty buildings
BBCPlans to convert a former education centre in Leicester into student flats have been given the go-ahead.
Leicester City Council's planning and development control committee approved an application by The iLiving Group to convert two empty buildings in Regent Road on Wednesday.
According to planning documents, the proposed accommodation would consist of 16 cluster flats with a total of 98 bedrooms.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the application was brought before the committee following objections from Green Party councillor Patrick Kitterick, who raised concerns about the size of the bedrooms and the long-term use of the accommodation.
Kitterick said the proposed development in its current form would "represent an unacceptable living environment" for future occupants of the property as all the cluster flats are "universally below the National Designated Space Standards".
He added there was a "poor provision of open space".
But planning officers said the flats exceeded local guidance for shared housing, adding that national space standards for ordinary flats did not apply to student housing.
The LDRS said bedrooms would range from 11.5 sq m (123 sq ft) to 24 sq m (258 sq ft), each with an en-suite bathroom and a shared kitchen and living space.
The iLiving Group said the development at 94-98 Regent Road would deliver "high-quality" student accommodation and argued concerns about future changes of use were "unrelated".
The firm said in planning documents: "The proposal seeks to convert the existing former university teaching building at 94–98 Regent Road, Leicester, into a high-quality, managed student accommodation scheme.
"The change of use aligns with the growing need for well-located, purpose-built student housing within the city, responding to Leicester's significant student population and its proximity to both the University of Leicester and De Montfort University."
Additional reporting by Dan Hunt
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