An application to build 440 student flats in Loughborough looks set to be approved.
A previous bid to build on the land, off Aumberry Gap, was rejected by Charnwood Borough Council last July.
Future Generation Ltd wanted to build 600 student flats, with a tower block up to 15 storeys-high and a rooftop football pitch.
At the time of refusal, a planning officer’s report to councillors said the proposed development failed to respect the context of this town centre site.
The report said: “It would have a significant adverse impact upon the character and appearance of the town centre in general and the surrounding nearby buildings in particular.”
The company has since launched an appeal against the decision and also submitted a new application.
The 15-storey tower on the corner of Barrow Street and Leicester Road has been slashed to just seven storeys-high.
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The plans for the rooftop football pitch have also been scrapped.
The total number of flats has been reduced from the 612 figure to 440.
In total, the new scheme now consists of a three-storey terrace block on Pinfold Gate.
At Aumberry Gap the development is for 4-5 storeys. It is five-storeys on Barrow Street, with a short six-storey section linking to seven storeys on the Barrow Street/Leicester Road corner. Central to the site is a five-storey block.
In a borough council report for this week’s planning meeting Loughborough University is quoted as saying it is satisfied that the scale of the development had now been reduced.
The reports also says that Loughborough Town Team considers that the revision of the plans is more proportionate and welcomes the “beneficial” development of a largely vacant site.
A total of 158 letters of support have been received by the borough council.
However 25 letters of objection have also been received, saying the development was too large and out of character with the area.
Park View Medical Surgery on Leicester Road also says it has insufficient capacity to accommodate additional patients.
The borough planning officers have recommended that the proposal be passed with a number of conditions including the provision of £35,948 to increase the capacity of local health care facilities.
The council is also requesting that there would be an increase of street patrol staff for the Student Street Support Scheme.
What students should know
Chris Pittock, director of planning at Future Generation said: “We’ve been working hard with council officers and technical consultees such as the Design Review Panel to ensure that the building is respectful of the surrounding area, without compromising its quality and being able to offer the community spaces that were so popular with the previous application.
“We have sought to incorporate feedback from the local community and I’m really grateful to all those that have provided thoughts and support on the plans over the last few months.
“We’re really pleased that the application has been recommended for approval, and I look forward to working with the local community and the council to bring this project forward.”
