Approval nears for Primus’s Lancaster student scheme
Designed by Tim Groom Architects, the development comprises 388 student rooms instead of the originally proposed 441.
Earlier this year, Primus Property Group held a consultation on proposals for the student development, to be constructed on two plots off Bulk Road and Parliament Street.
The development has since been scaled back by 53 studios, reduced in height and reconfigured in line with feedback from Lancaster City Council’s conservation team.
The revised plans are recommended for approval when the city council’s planning committee meets on 7 November.
Primus’ scheme would see the construction of two blocks. The largest, at eight storeys, would comprise 284 studios and is located on the corner of Bulk Road and Caton Street.
The second block, at five and six storeys, would provide the remaining 133 studios and occupy a vacant site between Farmfoods and the former Kashis restaurant on Parliament Street.
Stride Treglown is also advising Primus on the scheme. To learn more about the project, search for application 22/00332/FUL on Lancaster City Council’s planning portal.
There is precedent for student accommodation in the area. In 2016, Lancaster City Council approved Hines’ plan for 630 student bedrooms across eight buildings on nearby Caton Street.
The first phase of the project, Caton Court, completed in 2019.
Why more student housing when social housing is needed?
By Jane
I’m sure we need all the students we can get, but I don’t understand why we have to locate them all in the city. There’s land at Bailrigg they could use.
By keith sowden
This development may be approved but so far there has been no mention of how once it starts they are going to deal with the traffic chaos it will cause during its development. I live in the area and with the already traffic issues caused by the traffic cutting through bulk road and Ullswater road to access the theee schools the prison and new housing up at the moor it will be chaotic. What’s the plan to cope with that.
By John Davis
Oh No. Not more student accommodation in Lancaster town. Big ugly blocks. Why not build affordable housing for local residents?
By Anonymous
Why not housing for Lancaster working people.
These student blocks remind me of the Communist housing blocks seen when I was in Rumania.Ugly and Oppresive.
By S.sprules
There now appears to be more student accommodation than private housing in Lancaster.
By Christine
No costing figures…
By Eric
This accommodation is not needed The local infrastructure cannot cope with more students local people struggling to get Dr’s appointments hospital can’t cope. Not enough police or fire appliances along with ambulance cover.
In light of the government warning of a long deep recession its likely there will be fewer students in real terms.
Think long and hard before you wave this through, you will be held accountable for overrunning the town with student accommodation over the needs of local communities.
There is now a resentment of students and the amount of accommodation which is unhealthy for the community.
By Graham Jackson
if you didn’t know better, you’d think this was Morris & Co work….great minds think alike
By anonymous
This is a grand idea, but when will the council ban normal 3-4 bedroom houses been turned into shared living, private halls and student accommodation.
There is nothing left to rent for families in lancaster.
It’s a bidding war just to get a look at a house that isn’t worth bread crumbs.
Or you are forced to live with someone else you don’t know.
I would hate to be a single mother in such circumstances 🙄 😱
It is the responsibility of the students to take it up with the universities so sort out renting and rules on campus.
Af the end of the day if they are paying tuition fees etc then there should be a clear deduction on any rents paid for living on campus.
We are in a housing crisis and I’m not pointing fingers at the students because it’s not their fault.
It’s the greedy home owners and associated bodies e.g. “mighty student living” buying up homes, converting them into halls and student accommodation that are at fault here.
It needs to stop, if we are facing an issue now, in another 5 years after the students have finished their degree where are they going to live?
There’s going to be absolutely nothing left.
By Renter