Unanimous approval for Merrion Centre PBSA
Town Centre Securities’ 1,000-bed scheme sailed through Leeds’ planning meeting yesterday, marking the first residential use for the site in its 61-year history.
Leeds-based TCS can now start on turning Wade House, a vacant 13-storey office block from the 1960s, into high-quality student accommodation, as well as constructing a 37-storey tower on the adjacent 100MC site.
The project team includes ID Planning, Enjoy Design, Homes for Students, Hoare Lea, re-form, Adept, and chartered surveyors Gia.
Once complete, the scheme will deliver 1,039 student bedrooms split between studio and cluster apartments, as well as residents’ lounges, co-working spaces, a cinema, gym, terraces, and naturally, a karaoke room.
Speaking at the meeting, cllr Colin Campbell said: “The city centre has become a mecca for students with substantial income, and we need to create a policy that recognises that.
“I’m old enough to remember when nobody lived in the city centre, and it was a ghost town in the evenings.
“The city is now vibrant and full of life, and feels much safer for it.
“The Merrion Centre is dated and the owners are taking measures on that. This seems to be a very reasonable use of Wade House.”
The proposal consists of three main phases: the conversion and extension of Wade House, a vacant 12-storey office building at Merrion; demolition of a four-storey block containing an empty cinema and retail units to make way for a 37-storey PBSA tower; and reconfiguration of retail assets and mall routes within the Merrion Estate.
Craig Burrow, group property director for TCS, commented: “It has been over three years since our initial pre-application discussions began, and we have worked closely with Leeds City Council and key stakeholders throughout to carefully refine the design and ensure the scheme is both sensitive and sustainable.
“We are proud to be repurposing Wade House in a way that respects its heritage, while unlocking the opportunity to provide high-quality, purpose-built student accommodation that will support Leeds’ growing population.
“This development is a vital part of our long-term vision to further diversify the Merrion estate, continuing to evolve our retail, leisure, office and now residential offering to meet the changing needs of the city.”
Edward Ziff, chairman and chief executive of TCS, added: “The approval of this significant scheme is a pivotal step in our journey to further enhance the Merrion Centre.
“We have consistently evolved the estate to meet the demands of the city, and this next phase represents a natural progression in our commitment to delivering a vibrant, sustainable mixed-use destination at the heart of Leeds.”
LCC have had a very cosy relationship with TCS for donkeys years. (They are all sole tenants at Merrion House)
Mebbes also reason they seem able to continue operating ” temporary” surface car parks much much longer than other property owners.
That said have no problems with the development expect just adds to the thousands of office jobs that have moved out of city centre as well as home working encouraged by the bloody council themselves!!
By Eamon Egan