Student flats plan for city Debenhams

EARLY PLANS to convert one of the best-known department stores in Leeds into student flats is set to go before planning chiefs next week.

The pre-application outlines proposals to convert the former Debenhams building in Briggate into “flexible commercial uses” – while adding two extra floors for student flats, some of which would be dual-occupancy rooms known as “twodios”.

According to a document produced by Leeds City Council planning officials, the basement, ground and first floors would remain for commercial use while student accommodation would be added on the second and third floors.

A two-storey roof extension to replace the existing roof extension built in the 1990s is also included. This would be given over to student accommodation and would be made up of 124 “bedspaces” in 90 studio flats and 17 “dual occupancy” studios, which the document dubs “twodios”.

The studios would range from 20-28 square metres of floor space, while the “twodios” would range from 32-54 square metres.

Communal areas would also be included, with a new “courtyard wellness garden” from the second floor up, as well as another space on the roof.

The report states: “It has been established that there are approximately 38,000 university students in the city presently without access to purpose-built student accommodation.

“Leeds’s planning strategy states that growth in new, purpose-built student accommodation is to be welcomed to meet need and to deflect pressure from private rented houses in areas of over-concentration.”

In January it was announced Debenhams stores would close after the brand was bought by online fashion retailer Boohoo.