£12m city centre student accommodation proposal approved
Plans for a seven-storey student accommodation block, providing 14 studios and 85 cluster bedrooms, have been approved by Liverpool City Council Planning Committee this morning (November 12).
The £12m proposal, by Liverpool-based Molyneux Developments for a site in Gildart Street, near the city centre, in Brownlow Hill Ward, also includes ground floor flexible use.
The site is currently occupied by a two-storey brick warehouse with an adjacent parking/loading area which last operated as a textile retailer.
It is one block back from the London Road District Centre and also falls within both the Fabric District and the Knowledge Quarter area designations.
Proposed interior design of Gildart St accommodation
On the opposite side of Gildart Street is Kexgill Court (No.19 Gildart Street), a six-storey block of student accommodation next to the development site owned by Liverpool retailer, TJ Morris, which secured planning approval for new-build student accommodation in July this year.
The site has been vacant for a long time and has attracted no commercial interest.
The application sought permission to demolish the existing building and build a seven-storey mixed use development, including the formation of a basement, managed by an experienced operator.
Plans include eight cluster units providing 85 bedspaces – 86% of bedspaces – each with between 9-10 student bedrooms and served by a communal kitchen/lounge/diner space.
The student accommodation proposals include ground floor reception, gym, amenity and study spaces, accessible wc, basement laundry, secure cycle store and refuse facilities.
The self-contained commercial unit would provide around 162 sq metres. The scheme does not include any car parking. The basement will have capacity for 116 cycle spaces.
Planning officers recommended the application, saying the student accommodation and commercial uses proposed would contribute positively towards a diverse and complementary 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.
Cllr Peter Norris praised the design of the scheme saying: “It is a huge step forward in student design.”
Councillors approved the proposal unanimously.
Kevin Odger, of Molyneux Developments, said: “My thanks go to Liverpool council for their guidance throughout the application process. We’ve sought to work collaboratively, and today’s approval is evidence of that working.”
The 33,500 sq ft building has been designed by Revival Architect, with Baltic PDC acting as planning consultants.
The site was purchased in a private sale in April this year. Construction is expected to take 24 months to complete.
Another proposal, by SGL1 Ltd, to provide 138 flats on Fox Street in the Everton West Ward was also approved, despite concerns over lack of car parking spaces and social and affordable housing.
The site, part of a stalled development, was subject to a major fire in late January this year.
An amendment to defer the committee’s decision pending a site visit was voted down before the main vote approved the application by four votes to two.
