Councillor anger as student digs get green light

1.20.00pm GMT Tue 2nd Oct 2007

Cllr Penny Ewens

A planning application for student flats on the Perseverance Mill site, Cross Chancellor Street (Woodhouse) which was turned down by council planners has been given the thumbs up by a government inspector.

Despite strong arguments by council officers, Councillor Penny Ewens and a representative of local residents, the inspector supported the developer's appeal.

Councillor Penny Ewens (Lib Dem, Hyde Park & Woodhouse) said "University students' own Community Strategy suggests that students live with the local communities, not fenced off from them. The University of Leeds Housing Strategy Update Report tell us the provision of such purpose-built accommodation will have been satisfied by 2010.

"The new Prime Minister said three months ago that he wanted to make planning decisions made locally. This would go towards my own aim to make planning demand-led, according to the city's needs, not developer-led, and family friendly. It makes me very angry that people with money can get away with building purely for profit, when within half a mile of the development families are living four to a one-bedroom flat."