Revised Proposal for Student Apartment Development Nears Opening

A proposal to make a number of student apartments in Staffordshire available to the general public has been reduced in scope, primarily due to issues related to vehicle parking. The Deakin’s Yard project, located in Newcastle-under-Lyme, was scheduled to open during the current year; however, construction was not finished before the commencement of the academic year. Integritas Property Group (IPG), the developer, sought approval to utilize the 273 units at the location, previously identified as the Sky Building, as temporary serviced apartments, with a plan to convert them back to student housing starting in September 2025. Nevertheless, highways officials halted these proposals, citing worries about a potential increase in parking congestion on adjacent residential roads. They stated that each serviced apartment would necessitate its own parking provision, yet Deakin’s Yard is equipped with only 19 off-street parking spots, indicating a potential deficit exceeding 250 spaces. Consequently, IPG has now filed a revised application proposing the use of only 68 of the apartments as serviced units, commencing in January, which is the anticipated opening month for the building, and continuing until September. The project was originally slated for completion in 2017, but it encountered delays when the initial developer faced financial difficulties. IPG acquired the property in 2023 with intentions to have it operational for the 2024/25 academic year, but the construction experienced additional setbacks. Within the updated application, IPG contended that 68 serviced apartments would generate a parking demand equivalent to that of the student accommodation, thereby suggesting its acceptability. A company spokesperson stated: “This adjustment allows us to road-test the building over the next eight months ahead of its first student intake in September 2025.“Our aim is to ensure the building is perfect for the incoming students and that any operational challenges are addressed prior to their arrival.” Planners at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council are currently reviewing the application. This report was compiled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers local government bodies and other public service entities. For further updates, follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.