Lack of parking stops plan to let student flats

Construction on the Deakin's Yard scheme is due to be completed by the end of December, according to developer Integritas Property Group

A developer's plans to temporarily rent out student flats as serviced accommodation have been refused due a lack of car parking spaces.

Delays in construction meant Deakin's Yard, formerly known as the Sky Building, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, was not completed in time for the start of the current academic year.

Developer Integritas Property Group had asked for permission to use part of the building between January and September, before students are set to move in.

The site only has 19 off-street parking spaces and the council said 273 spaces would have been required if all the units were available.

The scheme to provide student flats was previously approved on appeal with a shortfall of 49 parking spaces.

The developer had proposed all 273 flats be let out temporarily, but then sought a compromise – meaning they would only have offered 68 rooms as serviced accommodation until September 2025.

This would have left the same parking shortfall as their existing approved plans.

However, councillors said this week they were unhappy with the temporary proposals and voted to turn them down.

"I refused this application in 2017 because of the parking issue, I still don't agree with this," said councillor Gill Heesom.

"If I was having a serviced flat and I was a professional, I would want to bring my car with me."

Councillors were warned it could be seen as unreasonable to refuse the temporary application on parking grounds, due to the shortfall of spaces on the approved scheme.

The planning committee nevertheless voted unanimously to reject the plans.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.