Retailer behind bid to develop more city centre student accommodation
The group behind Liverpool retail chain Home Bargains is expanding its property interests with plans to develop student accommodation in the city.
TJ Morris is branching out into property schemes. In April this year it was revealed that Liverpool-based developer, Beetham, had sold a gateway site bordering the King Edward Triangle in Liverpool to KEIE, the TJ Morris subsidiary with whom it is working to deliver an eight-acre multimillion-pound waterfront scheme on the land.
Now, TJ Morris has submitted a proposal to build a five- six- and seven-storey structure to be used as student accommodation for 250 bed spaces and to use part of the ground floor as commercial/retail space, following demolition of existing structures.
The site, in the Brownlow ward, is edged by Audley Street, Kempston Street, Ilford Street and Gildart Street.
It comprises a number of different buildings of varying heights and designs including a three/four-storey warehouse building, a three-storey former pub, and a single-storey retail unit currently occupied by Home Bargains, which was a previous Salvation Army hall. It also includes a small surface car park located between these intervening buildings, accessed from Audley Street.
The site is surrounded by Audley House, the former TJ Hughes department store to the west on the opposite side of Audley Street, a variety of two- and three-storey commercial buildings to the north a commercial and a vacant building to the east on the opposite side of Gildart Street, and more contemporary residential buildings of up to six storeys to the south on the opposite side of Ilford Street.
In February last year TJ Hughes was granted permission to convert its iconic Liverpool retail site in Audley Street into 199 new apartments.
Cllr Heather Westhead has objected to the TJ Morris application, saying the absence of an active frontage on the proposed new building will not animate the street, and there is already a very high concentration of student accommodation in the immediate area that is not in use for around five months of the year, which would impact negatively on businesses in the area and the council’s policy of supporting sustainable businesses in the nearby Fabric District.
Three further objections have been received from individuals on similar grounds, as well as fears that the area lacks a feeling of safety due to existing issues including drug taking, prostitution, and general small crime, such as parking meter theft, while an increased number of students raises concern that the crime rate would rise further.
However, in recommending the proposal for approval, the council’s planning officers say: “The student accommodation and retail uses proposed within this mixed use development would contribute positively towards a diverse and complimentary mix of uses within the Fabric District in a highly accessible location, add to the future growth of the Knowledge Quarter and create a sustainable form of development.
“The proposed buildings are of an appropriate scale, height and massing and will improve the visual amenity of the area, increase footfall and surveillance within the surrounding streets, and assist to protect and enhance the role and function of the London Road District Centre.
“The proposed servicing and access arrangements will enable access for all, whilst protecting highway and pedestrian safety. Furthermore, it is considered that the proposed student accommodation will offer a good level of amenity to all future residents and will have no undue impact upon the operation of nearby businesses or residential occupiers.”
The application will be heard at next week’s planning committee, on July 30.
