Torsion primed for Leeds approval

Proposals for a student accommodation scheme of 183 apartments over six to eight storeys at Burley Street go before the council’s city plans panel next week.

Development vehicle Torsion (Burley Street), part of the eponymous Leeds-headquartered property group, submitted plans in April for the project, which would involve the demolition of low-level commercial space on a triangular site at the junction with Park Lane.

The site is close to Leeds City College and the Fox &Newt pub.

Day Architectural is the scheme’s designer, and Quod the planning advisor. The professional team also includes landscape architect TPM, Delta Simons, Turley (on heritage) and transport planner Mode.

Leeds City Council owns the site, which is unallocated and not within a conservation area, although it is close to the Hanover Square/Woodhouse Square conservation area.

The development will provide 183 studio flats, made up of 162 standard units, 14 accessible units, and seven ‘premium’ units.

Officers recommend that powers be delegated to the chief planning officer for approval, on the condition that a road safety audit returns a positive verdict.

The Leeds Civic Trust is an objector, on grounds of over-development both vertically and horizontally, the trust also expressing the opinion that the greening and public space plans as proposed could be improved. The Little Woodhouse Community Association has also objected.

Torsion’s plans go to the panel on 5 October. The planning portal reference number is 23/02335/FU.