Multi-million pound student schemes get go-head from city planners
TWO major student accommodation schemes on the site of the former National Express coach and Ribble Bus stations in central Liverpool have been given planning permission by the city council’s planners.
Architect Falconer Chester Hall’s designs for a £35m 566-bed scheme for Anwyl Construction and a combination of 74 studios and 138-bedroom clusters of homes for Unite Students totalling 1,085 beds have been approved.
Anwyl’s site will occupy the former coach station on Norton Street while the Unite development will sit on land bounded by Skelhorne Street, Copperas Hill and Bolton Street, adjacent to Lime Street station.
“These are a pair of important developments on sites of some significance and high visibility,” said FCH managing director Adam Hall.
“The Anwyl Construction development will stand on one of the major routes into the city, while the Unite Students buildings will be amongst the first to be seen by visitors as they leave Lime Street station.
“It was important, therefore, that both add positively to their respective locations in terms of the quality of their design and their impact on regeneration efforts.”
The development for Flintshire-based Anwyl will be in two blocks if 16 and 10 storeys.
A facade of woven solid to glass references the garment trade that existed in the area, while the roof form and sheer side walls take influence from slate works that once stood on the site.
At Skelhorne Street, the development for Unite Students will be U-shaped and range in height between 19 and 22 storeys.
It will include two ground floor retail units as well as the student accommodation. The building’s predominant use of brick will give a nod towards the Victorian architecture and industrial character of the adjoining station.
Anwyl also plans a second £50m development of apartments in the Liverpool’s growing commercial district.
Plans will be submitted next month for a 21-floor tower in Pall Mall housing 342 spacious flats at 30 and 36 Pall Mall.
