TWO more blocks of student flats look set to be given the go-ahead by York planners, despite opposition.

Officers at City of York Council are recommending approval for both:

  • An application by Horwell Bros Ltd for a four-storey block of 84 units on its coal yard site in Mansfield Street, off Foss Islands Road.
  • An application by S Harrison Developments for a 3/4 storey block of 106 units on the current site of retailer Herbert Todd and Son in Percy’s Lane, off Walmgate and Navigation Road - an area where a huge amount of student accommodation has already been created in recent years.

A report to next Thursday’s planning committee by development management officer Diane Cragg says York’s emerging local plan says students form an important element of the community and the presence of a large student population contributes greatly to the city’s social vibrancy and local economy.

It said there was a total of 23,000 students in York in 2013/14, with 20,000 in full-time education.

It also said that he proposed growth in student numbers at York St John University was from 6,500 to 8,000 by 2018, with numbers were set to rise by another 5,500 at the University of York by 2030.

“Recent investment in student housing has resulted in an increase in bed spaces but does not fully address potential demand,”it said.

“Provision of purpose-built student accommodation at Mansfield Street will help to reduce the number of houses in multiple occupation.”

Another report by development management officer Jonathan Kenyon said Guildhall Planning Panel has objected to the Percy’s Lane scheme.

They said there had been harm to the area, to the detriment of local residents, from all the student accommodation already built in the area.

Mr Kenyon said the National Centre for Early Music, based at St Margaret’s Church, just across the road from the proposed student housing, acknowledged that the development could, potentially, improve the area, but considered the buildings would be ‘disproportionately massive and severe’ and out of keeping with the Grade 1 listed church.

Historic England had also raised concerns that the accommodation would harm the church’s setting, and York Civic Trust had reservations about the scale and density.

Mr Kenyon said the site was under-used and the student accommodation would have a positive effect on the vitality of the area.

He said a ‘low adverse impact on the setting of the church’ would be outweighed by the public benefit, and the redevelopment would otherwise improve the character and appearance of the conservation area.