Green light for Leicester student housing following successful planning appeal BY Marrons

Permission has been granted for a developer to demolish an unused warehouse and construct much-needed purpose-built student accommodation in Welford Road – following a successful appeal by planning, design and development consultancy Marrons.

As well as the two student blocks, comprising 50 studio flats, the redevelopment will also see the reinstatement of a pedestrian footpath, associated landscaping and creation of boundary treatments.

The initial application submitted in August 2023 was refused by Leicester City Council in October of the same year, with the local authority citing concerns related to bin storage and collection, the potential outlook of residents, and the impact a new building would have on the character and appearance of the area.

In response, Marrons emphasised that a private waste management refuse strategy had been developed, resulting in no additional cost to the council. Concerns about residents whose outlook may be impacted by a communal bin storage area were also addressed in a detailed landscaping scheme.

Benefits of the design – created by Wilson Architects - were also highlighted, with the proposed modern accommodation building being balanced and well-detailed with sufficient windows to serve all studio bedrooms.

The height of the building, Marrons argued, was reasonable for the area considering previous local approvals and the presence of much taller building in the immediate vicinity.

The Planning Inspectorate overturned the council’s decision and granted permission in October 2024 as well as granting partial costs back to the developer because if the delay.

Sachin Parmar, planning director at Marrons, who led the appeal alongside planner Ellen Keen, and Shakespeare Martineau legal advisor Kylie Wesson, said: “While we are disappointed this has taken so long, we are delighted to have achieved a successful appeal.

“The existing warehouse has been disused since 2019, making this an excellent example of brownfield development, working towards the purpose-built student accommodation deficit in the city.”