Preston student apartment plans set for nod

Moor Lane and Ashmore Street in Preston. Picture: Google.
Student accommodation has been proposed for the site bounded by Moor Lane at the east, Ashmoor Street at the north, Sizer Street at the west and
Victoria Street at the south. — Moor Lane and Ashmore Street in Preston. Picture: Google. Student accommodation has been proposed for the site bounded by Moor Lane at the east, Ashmoor Street at the north, Sizer Street at the west and Victoria Street at the south.

Preston Council’s planning committee had been due to discuss proposals for two four-storey buildings off Sizer Street and Moor Lane, providing 218 studio apartments, at their last meeting.

But the application was deferred following an objection from the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), raising concerns about a lack of information to allow a proper assessment of the drainage implications.

However the plans for Innovation House have now been recommended for approval once again, and will be debated at a meeting on Thursday.

A report to the planning committee said: “The proposed development would lead to the redevelopment of a vacant and brownfield site in a highly sustainable location and would provide quality purpose-built student accommodation that would be well related to the university campus.

“The scale and design of the development would be striking and imposing but has been sensitively designed to integrate into the urban street scene and would positively contribute to the character and appearance of the area. “Subject to the LLFA’s confirmation that the applicant’s drainage proposals are acceptable, the proposal complies with the relevant provisions of the development plan and there are no material considerations which outweigh this finding.”

The proposals, by applicant Ladson Preston Ltd, are for the demolition of the existing buildings and the replacement with two flat-roofed blocks of student accommodation, along with a single commercial unit on the ground floor of the northern block.