New Chester University student homes look set for go-ahead

Sep 29 2008 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

REVISED plans for student accommodation close to Chester University are recommended for approval.Š

The application has been made at 62 Liverpool Road in Chester by Chester Lettings.Š

Previous plans were rejected by the city council in July, leading to an appeal.Š

The city's planning board is now due to be told at a meeting on Wednesday (October 1) that Chester Lettings have made alterations to deal with the reasons for refusal.

The large, detached residential property, reached from a narrow driveway off Liverpool Road, is vacant.Š

It is nearby to a three-storey property used as university student accommodation and two bungalows, according to a report.Š

The previous application was refused as councillors believed it would be detrimental to residential amenity and there was insufficient parking.Š

Chester Lettings has now increased the number parking spaces from six to nine and has included double glazing throughout the property which would have a two storey extension at the rear following the demolition of an outbuilding.Š

Acoustic fencing is proposed around the accommodation and planning officers have been told that mature trees and hedging would be retained and there would also be additional planting.Š

An external staircase included at the rear has been removed.

The development would create a total of 19 bedrooms for student use only.

No objections have been raised by highways or environmental health officers while the council's housing officials say there is a lack of appropriate student accommodation in the area.Š

Chester Civic Trust is concerned about the amount of parking while objections have been made by two neighbours who describe the application as “unnecessary” and argue there is an oversupply of student accommodation.Š

They believe the change will affect residential amenity and they will suffer from noise and unsociable behaviour.Š

The city council has also had one letter in support.Š

Due to the expansion of the university, there is clearly a need for additional student accommodation in the district, according to principal planning officer Liz Stone.Š

She does not believe the change would detract from the amenities of that part of Liverpool Road but suggests that Chester Lettings has not shown there is an overriding need for the accommodation and the property is no longer suitable for family use.Š

She feels, however, there is a need to provide a mix of student accommodation and points out there have recently been a number of successful appeals.Š

Recommending the application should be approved, Ms Stone says the change of use would not be out of keeping with the character of the locality or detrimental to the amenities of neighbouring properties or highway safety.Š