Student flats on unused car park approved

The flats will be built on College Street in Northampton

A plan for 101 student flats on an unused town centre car park has been approved.

The five-storey apartment block for University of Northampton students will be built on a brownfield site on College Street in Northampton.

The proposal was supported by the town council and a nearby renovated four-star hotel.

But an LGBTQ+ bar said inadequate noise mitigation measures at the development could put its business at risk.

Zone have built student flats on the site of the former Debenhams store in Northampton

The application was made by Zone, which recently built 201 flats on the site of the former Debenhams store in Northampton, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

It went before West Northamptonshire Council's planning committee in July, but came to a standstill because of concerns raised by a nearby nightclub about possible noise complaints.

'Regeneration of Northampton'

The neighbouring LGBTQ+ bar, The Boston, raised concerns that the noise mitigation from their property into the student flats was not robust enough, which could lead to them receiving complaints from tenants.

Daniel Edwards, owner of The Boston, asked the planning committee to refuse the application, saying it was "a situation which could lead to the closure of a cherished local venue for the LGBTQ+ community".

The meeting on Thursday heard planning officers had suggested prospective tenants would be given information about the opening hours of the nightclub prior to moving in.

The Boston bar in Northampton said it was worried about proposed noise mitigation

The manager of the nearby Mercure Hotel, James Simpson, spoke in favour of the development, saying it would reduce anti-social behaviour at St Katherine's Gardens, which are adjacent to the hotel and the College Street site.

"The 100 students that it could accommodate would also support the local economy, which is obviously a key focus of the regeneration of Northampton itself," he said.

Northampton Town Council also supported the proposal, saying it was likely to reduce the need for houses of multiple occupancy in the town.

Councillors decided to follow council officers' recommendations and approve the plans.