Plans submitted for new student flats in former Lancaster city centre offices

Plans to change a city centre office space into student accommodation have been submitted to Lancaster City Council.

Planning documents show that the developer wants to convert the space into 12 student studios and four four-bed cluster flats.

The directors of 47-­51 North Road Limited (Anas Mister and Aqeela Bhikha) want to convert and change the use of the first, second and third floors of 3-12 Gage Street to realise their plans. 

Last year, 47-­51 North Road Limited submitted alternative plans to the council to change the same space in 30 student studio flats (15 couple studios and 15 single studios).

The design and access statement, written by Zub Architecture on behalf of the developers, highlights that the development would be accredited under the Lancaster University Homes Scheme which ensures that “it adheres to the university’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and professional management, thereby enhancing its attractiveness to students and supporting sustained, long-term occupancy in a competitive market”.

The plans also note the recent decline in international students studying in the UK, describing how the previous academic year saw “a second consecutive year of reductions” in overseas student enrolment numbers, and instead aiming to create accommodation that is “particularly well-suited to domestic UK students, delivering high-quality, sustainable shared living at a more affordable price point compared to individual studios”.

Developers also mention making changes to the property such as the erection of a second floor partial rear extension, alterations to the rear roof, erection a bin store to the rear, window relocation and acoustic glazing, and the construction of a new building entrance.

The statement also describes that the new application “responds to the current oversupply of premium studio accommodation in Lancaster” by providing the option of cluster-style flats, which come at a more affordable price point in comparison to studio accommodation.

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The proposed site’s location also “aligns with Lancaster City Council’s promotion of sustainable student housing in city centres, where students benefit from public transport, local amenities like cafes, shops, and cultural hubs – delivering economic, social, and environmental advantages”.

The existing upper floors are currently a mix of open plan and individual office spaces, which “considering the decrease in demand” for such spaces, the conversion to student accommodation would be considered commercially sustainable and suitable for the site.

The new layout of the property will retain the existing stair core but remodel most of the internal partitions. Most structural elements, such as pillars and load-bearing walls, will be preserved by the developers to ensure efficient reconfiguration of the building.

The plans will be discussed at a Lancaster City Council planning committee consultation, scheduled for Saturday 19th September.

Further information on the development of this property can be found here.

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