STUDENT FLATS APPROVED
Blocks of accommodation to house hundreds of students in Swansea have been given the go-ahead. RICHARD YOULE looks at what is being proposed
Councillors’ mixed views range from‘ wonderful addition’ and‘ transform at ive’ to‘ not enamoured’
This will be a wonderful addition to Swansea
- Councillor Richard Lewis
SWANSEA’S rising student population will have somewhere else to live after two large developments were given planning consent.
A company called Bricks Capital will build four five-to-six storey blocks for 706 students at the former Unigate dairy site on Morfa Road, while Curlew Property is behind a six-to-seven storey development with 245 beds at the nearby St David’s development.
Swansea Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the Unigate site scheme, which already had outline planning permission.
The blocks will have two rooftop dining terraces, courtyards, a gym and cafe, while the public will have access to a River Tawe walkway along the eastern edge of the development.
Councillor Richard Lewis said he believed it would transform the area. “This will be a wonderful addition to Swansea,” he said.
Councillor Linda Tyler-lloyd said: “I think this is fabulous — I think students will enjoy living together like this.”
Slightly less enthusiastic was Councillor Peter Black.
“I’m not greatly enamoured by the design,” he said. “But it will be transformative.”
Councillors were told that fencing would be installed along the riverside walkway, and buses picking up students would pull into a new lay-by rather than blocking Morfa Distributor Road.
The new block at the St David’s student development on the corner of Morfa Road and New Cut Road, meanwhile, will take the total student bed numbers there to 967. The scheme has had to be revised to take account of a culvert running through the site.
Councillor Mike White said there had been issues at St David’s, and that people living at the adjacent Bellway Homes estate had used a private management company to deal with students’ parked cars.
Students living there are not supposed to bring cars on to the site.
“I would hope that if tenancy agreements have been drawn up that the conditions are enforced,” said Councillor White. “It has been a nightmare for people living at that development.”
Councillor Des Thomas said he did not approve of the block’s design, and that it was time to say “no” to render for big buildings in Swansea.
“Surely we have learned by our past mistakes?” he said.
A planning officer said the design was an improvement on the first two phases of development at St David’s, adding: “We have attempted to break up the render.”
I’m not greatly enamoured by the design. But it will be transformative
- Councillor Peter Black
I think this is fabulous — I think students will enjoy living together like this
- Councillor Linda Tyler-lloyd