Plans lodged for 600-bed student scheme

Proposals for a new development of more than 600 student flats in a series of blocks of up to 15 storeys to the north of Leeds city centre have moved forward with the submission of a planning application.B&B Pickard (Leeds), supported by Quod and Halliday Clark Architects, has submitted a full planning application to Leeds City Council for demolish the existing student accommodation at Carlton Hill in Leeds and construct a new multi-storey scheme.The existing development comprises four four-storey student accommodation blocks built in the early 2000s. The plans, developed in collaboration with Unipol and the University of Leeds, propose the construction of a building made up of four blocks of between six and 15 storey.A mix of six- and eight-bed cluster flats with shared living spaces would be provided across the blocks, with a total of 604 student beds provided.The scheme also includes an on-site management flat, central courtyard, sky gardens, roof terraces, and communal social, study and leisure/gym spaces.Staff parking for nine vehicles, as well as about 140 cycle spaces, is proposed.A planning statement submitted in support of the plans has estimated that the development could support about 200 jobs at peak construction. Once complete, spending in the local economy by the students resident in the building could generate £2.3m per year.Pre-application proposals for the development were considered by the council at a meeting in February, with committee members supportive of the plans.