Go-ahead given for more student accommodation
Proposals for more student accommodation in Sunderland city centre have been given the green light by planning bosses.
Earlier this year, plans were lodged to convert the Olympia Fitness and Beauty Centre at 56 High Street West.
The site covers the first and second floors of a large unit in the West Walk Retail parade, near the city’s Keel Square.
New plans from Castlecap Investments Ltd aimed to transform the site into student apartments with a total of 13 bedrooms.
This included two "cluster” apartments on the first f l o o r w i th f ive b e d ro o m s within one apartment and two within the other.
The second floor would also provide one cluster apartment with six bedrooms.
Each apartment would have a communal kitchen and living area and all bedrooms would offer an ensuite bathroom, double bed and TV.
A statement from the applicant’s agent, included in planning documents, said
the development met key policy tests around student accommodation including “meeting an identified need”, sustainability and high quality living standards.
Developers added that if there were any issues letting the rooms in future, the site could be “easily converted” into three residential apartm e nt s th roug h a f u r th e r planning application.
Following consultation, the student development was approved by Sunderland City Council’s planning authority which met on Wednesday, September 9.
A decision report said the site is based in a sustainable location with plans “assisting in diversifying the choice of residential accommodation”.
It reads: “It is considered that the principle of the proposed use of the property for student accommodation is acceptable.
“The proposal is unlikely to adversely impact upon the visual amenities of the host property or the area in general, residential amenity or highway safety.
“The proposal has been found to be acceptable in terms of considerations relating to noise and, subject to restrictive conditions, biodiversity.”
The student accommodation plans are the latest to be approved in the city.