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Student flats plan for Southgates bus station scaled back

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Developers who want to build hundreds of student flats at a former bus depot have scaled back their plans.

Developer Applegate originally wanted to build 435 flats, housing nearly 700 students in buildings of up to nine-storeys, on the site of the old Southgates bus station, off Peacock Lane, Leicester.

The company told the Mercury about the idea in October after it shelved plans to create a five-star hotel and conference centre due to the economic downturn.

But the company has further altered the plans, and submitted an application to the city council for 289 flats, housing 500 students. They would be spread across four, five and six-storey blocks.

Council officers have recommended the application be approved at a planning meeting on Wednesday.

Lee Staniforth, of Leicester-based Staniforth Architects, said: "Having taken on board comments from various local groups - including the Conservation Advisory Panel, OPUN design panel, the Civic Society, public comments and indeed the planners, it was decided that we should propose a more sensitive scheme.

"The heights have been dropped to sit better in the surroundings of the old city and the blocks have been broken up to reflect the local street patterns, while allowing views through the building into and out of the city.

"This site is a perfect location for students – being next to the university and bringing extra life into that part of town in the evenings when the offices have shut.

"It will also promote movement of people past the site and into Jubilee and Cathedral Square. What has been a dead part of town in the evenings will become more active."

The development will consist of a four and five-storey block at the corner of Peacock Lane and Southgates, a six-storey block at the corner of Southgates and Friar Lane and two C-shaped buildings in the centre of the site.

The design still incorporates the last remaining part of the old depot – the entrance arch - which will be in-filled with glass and provide the front of a shop in the complex.

In a planning report, a council officer said the amended application would "deliver a significant enhancement to the character and appearance" of the area.

Two people have objected to the revised plans.

In a letter, Andrew Parkes, of nearby Friar Lane, said he felt there should be more family homes included in the plans.

Solicitors Philip J Hammond and Sons, also of Friar Lane, said they thought the site was "more suited to high quality residential town houses".

But Leicester Civic Society chairman Stuart Bailey praised the proposed development as "forward looking".

Mr Staniforth said: "The scheme is designed to be fully sustainable. If there is a drop in demand for student housing, the building can easily be converted into flats."

Student flats plan for Southgates bus station scaled back


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