Student halls approved despite neighbours' fears

The university says the scheme will help to keep students on campus

A student halls development has been approved on a university campus despite fears the five buildings will "dominate" nearby houses.

Loughborough University was given permission by Charnwood Borough Council at a meeting this week for five four- to six-storey halls to replace a car park off Ashby Road.

The 552-flat scheme has proved divisive, with 45 complaints lodged, and objectors present at the planning committee worried about the impact on the Holywell Drive and Spinney Hill Drive area.

Loughborough University told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the scheme is "well-designed" and "fully complies" with planning policy, and residents will be "kept informed as the project progresses".

At the meeting on Thursday, ward councillor Margaret Smidovicz said the site was "at the highest point" of the campus.

"The proposed location could not have been put in a worse place for maximising the negative impact on the largest number of residents," she said. "The blocks dominate and do not respect residents' privacy. A few trees will not hide the height, noise or light pollution from 28-plus windows."

Highways raised no objections to the loss of a car park, the meeting was told

Speaking on behalf of the university, Tim Evans, from planning agent Avison Young, said the development was "not just about the provision of new student accommodation" but was "about securing the future of the university".

He said the university is the town's largest employer, but that revenue from the new flats would "help fund core academic and student services, ensuring the university remains competitive" and would keep students on campus "where they're best supported and integrated into university life".

Councillors voted eight in favour of approving the scheme, with four voting against and one abstention.