Up-market student flats to be built on site of stalled hotel scheme

A student accommodation scheme is to be built on a site in Leeds which has been left standing vacant for the last three years.

Planning permission has been granted for student accommodation specialist Vita Student for the up-market project which will see 312 apartments built on the former Hilton hotel site at Portland Crescent.

The scheme which will open in time for the start of the academic year in 2020 will result in £8.5m injected into the local economy every year.

The site, which was originally granted planning permission to become a 12 storey hotel, has laid vacant since March 2015. Work will now begin to develop the building immediately.

This will be Vita Student’s second project in the city, with the first opening in September 2019 at St Alban’s Place.

The residence is made up of two adjoining towers of 16 and five storeys with 312 individual studio flats.

The top floor studios will feature stylish private terraces. As with all Vita Student residences, there will be an social area on the ground floor for students to socialise and study in, as well as media rooms, private study areas, a gym, coffee shop and private dining facilities.

With 13 residences across the UK and a further five in development, Vita Student invests in core city locations and works with both academia and businesses.

Vita group’s strategic planning director Michele Steel, said: “This second Leeds site is in a fantastic location and will offer students in the city an unparalleled living experience whilst they study.

“With our first Vita Student residence on track to open next September, we’re looking forward to getting on site and finally bringing this much talked about development back to life.”

All Vita Student residences have a 24/7 team on site to ensure customer experience and customer safety at all times.

The architects working on this project are Fuse Studios. Planning advisors are GVA HOW Planning.