Student flats at empty nightclub site turned down

Councillors feared the building would eventually be made available for people other than students

Plans to build student flats on the site of a vacant nightclub have been rejected by councillors, despite their own planning officers supporting the scheme.

Regal Property Stroud wanted to build 30 studio flats and two six-bed houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) at the former site of Roxanne's on Ocean Road in South Shields.

South Tyneside Council's planning officers backed the scheme but the development attracted dozens of objections from locals who cited a range of concerns, from a lack of parking to an "overconcentration of HMOs".

The council's planning committee rejected the plans and said the building would have impacted the "character and amenity of the area".

If approved, the student apartment building would have contained communal kitchens as well as study space, a gym, a cinema room and cycle storage, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Regal Property Stroud said the development would have contributed "positively" to the area and it had been designed to meet "modern living needs" while maintaining elements of the building's existing structure.

'Enough student accommodation'

The plans first went before the council in July but were deferred twice to give objectors more chance to comment and for the council to discuss a number of issues with the developer.

These included the possibility of adding a concierge service to the building, the removal of the HMOs, or for the HMOs to be made student-only.

In a report to councillors the developer confirmed the building would only be used for "full-time students".

But at a meeting this week, councillors raised concerns the developer could later apply to change who would be allowed to live there.

"I know they said this is for students but I think in a short space of time it will be flipped so that it will accommodate anybody and everybody," said councillor Joan Hamilton.

Councillor Paul Brenen said there was "enough student accommodation already" and the plans would "change the character of the local area".

Other concerns included privacy from nearby buildings and highway safety concerns related to bin collections.

The council unanimously voted to reject the plans.