Member Article

Green Light For Student Accommodation Scheme

LEEDS property company YPP has been given the green light to transform a derelict building on Cookridge Street in Leeds city centre, into a state of the art student accommodation scheme.

The development has been designed by Brewster Bye Architects and Indigo Planning advised on the planning application. A Leeds City Council Plans Panel unanimously voted in favour of granting a resolution to approve the proposal, subject to finalising the Section 106 agreement.

Leeds based development, investment and lettings company YPP will demolish the existing building, which was previously home to Australian themed bar chain Walkabout. The bar opened in 1999 but closed in summer 2013 due to poor trading conditions.

It will be replaced by a modern, part six and part eight storey building, that will house 96 self-contained student apartments. The development will also offer two ground floor retail units, a lettings office that will be occupied by YPP, and a range of communal facilities for the development including a lounge, gym and study area.

Omar Al-Nujaifi from YPP says: “Securing this resolution is a major milestone in this project. It paves the way for YPP to develop one of the city’s flagship student accommodation schemes that sits in a superb, prime location, on the doorstep of both universities and just off Millennium Square.

“It also contributes to a really exciting time for this part of the city, especially now that positive noises are emerging from the stalled hotel development next door to our site. Both these projects have the potential to completely rejuvenate Cookridge Street and further enhance the areas around the Arena Quarter and Millennium Square.”

Chris Austin, Managing Director at Headingley based Brewster Bye Architects, says: “The whole ethos of this development is about creating a landmark building that students will aspire to live in. It will offer stunning living accommodation, great views and superb communal facilities in a modern building that is designed to integrate seamlessly with its surroundings.”

David Smith, an Associate at Indigo Planning, says: “We’re delighted to achieve this resolution just over two months after submitting the planning application and with a unanimous decision. This is testament to the quality of the pre-application consultation that we held with both planning officers and the site’s neighbouring properties, to ensure we came up with a scheme that significantly improves and complements its surroundings.”

YPP recently started work on another student development, Fairbairn Residences, that Brewster Bye and Indigo Planning advised on, consisting of 25 apartments at 12 Clarendon Road. The development, which is already close to being fully let, is due to complete this summer in time for the start of the next academic year in September. YPP has experienced significant growth over the last few years and now manages properties in Leeds, Harrogate, York and Manchester.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Steven Wright .