£40m Leeds development to accommodate over 600 students

A new multi-million pound student accommodation scheme in Leeds has been approved.

A £40m development for B&B Pickard (Leeds) Ltd, part of Pickard Properties, was given the go-ahead by planners at Leeds City Council last week.

Situated at Carlton Hill on Lofthouse Terrace, the 604-bed scheme will replace the firm’s existing four-floor 239-bed development.

In addition to the apartments, the planning consent also includes an ancillary staff apartment, associated landscaping, parking, a courtyard and public space.

Pickard Properties director Miles Pickard commented: “This is a great result all round. We are delighted to be bringing such a forward-thinking scheme to market. It is an intelligent design where affordability and mental health were prime drivers.

“We have worked very closely with Leeds University to ensure the design focused strongly on the mental health and wellbeing of students and encouraged social circulation and interaction throughout the accommodation by the inclusion of carefully planned spaces both within the building and externally.

“It is also important for the City of Leeds to be able to offer a high standard of accommodation both to students with mainstream accommodation budgets as well as overseas students, who often have more extensive budgets. We want to help forge strong and happy memories of their time in Leeds.”

Construction on the scheme is set to commence in autumn 2020 following the appointment of a contractor, with completion scheduled for the summer of 2023.