Student accommodation plans for prominent building approved

Plans to convert a prominent 1970s office block in West Yorkshire into student accommodation have been given the go-ahead.Abode Manchester 2 Ltd submitted a full planning application to Kirklees Council last year for the redevelopment of Crown House on Southgate in Huddersfield.The building dates back to the 1970s and was previously occupied by the Department for Work and Pensions. A Jobcentre Plus centre operated on the ground floor until about four years ago.The plans cover the conversion of the building to create 198 student bedrooms.Student accommodation would be hosted on the first to ninth floors, with each unit including a bathroom, cooking and working facilities.Communal facilities for tenants would be provided on the ground floor, including lounge, gym, study area, and recreation areas. The ninth floor’s roof would also become a communal space for residents.The building would also be re-clad as part of the works.The council’s strategic planning committee voted to grant approval, subject to conditions and the signing of a Section 106 agreement, at a meeting on 11 May.The decision was in line with the recommendation of an officer’s report prepared for the meeting, as previously reported by Insider.Crown House is located adjacent to the site of University of Huddersfield’s new Health Innovation Campus.BAM started construction of the new Daphne Steele Building, the first to be constructed as part of the new campus, earlier this year, with work expected to be completed in 2024.The project team on the Crown House application includes Paul Butler Associates, NC Architecture, PDA Acoustic Consultants, Cameron Rose Associates and BB7.