Leeds City Council approve new 37-storey student skyscraper

Leeds City Council has approved a new 37-storey student skyscraper.

The 122-metre tower will house over 800 students, replacing Home Bargains and a disused cinema within the Merrion Centre. The building is set to join the city centre accommodation blocks, alongside the likes of White Rose View, Sky Plaza and Atlus House.

The BBC reports that the developers will also revamp the nearby Wade House office block, adding 223 more beds, plus a gym, karaoke room, cinema and laundry room.

Leeds councillors described the scheme as “sensible” and “remarkable,” despite some concerns about the city centre becoming too student-heavy.

Councillor Asghar Khan, a panel member for the project, warned the area could feel like a “ghost town” in the summer, but others praised students for keeping Leeds “vibrant and safe.”

The skyscraper will have blue brick columns, visible from Millennium Square and near three conservation areas.

Craig Burrow, Group Property Director for Town Centre Securities said: “We are proud to be repurposing Wade House in a way that respects its heritage, while unlocking the opportunity to provide high quality, purpose built student accommodation that will support Leeds’ growing population.”

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Research shows that demand for student accommodation is rising. Unipol found that Leeds Beckett and the University of Leeds saw a rise of 9,500 more full-time students between 2014 and 2023. It also predicts that the student population will further increase by 4,000 by 2028.

More than 17,000 student bed spaces have already been approved in Leeds over recent years.

Featured image via Canva