August 15, 2019 10.20 am This story is over 55 months old

51 Lincoln student town houses approved

The university said there is “no demand” for them
Visuals of the proposed town houses on Beevor Street.

51 new student town houses will be built in Lincoln, despite university bosses’ concerns that there is “no demand” for them.

Seven four-storey blocks which will provide 361-en-suite rooms will now be built on the former Windmill Pine site on Beevor Street.

A total of 42 six-bed, two nine-bed and seven 13-bed houses of multiple occupation are proposed for the development.

As part of the proposal, a new reception will also be built and a pedestrian link to Tritton Road between Morrisons car park and Coulson drain.

99 car parking spaces will also be provided.

More visuals of the Beevor Street town houses site behind Morrisons’ on Tritton Road.

City of Lincoln councillors backed the proposals at a planning meeting last night.

Stem Architects and Morrisons, who submitted the plan, said that there was a “shortfall” in purpose built housing for students past their first year.

It added that the development would help to “benefit the wider city” by relieving pressure on residential accommodation areas in the city which are often taken up by second and third years.

But, the University of Lincoln said the town houses would be “surplus to demand” and that the proposal had “no encouragement” from the institution.

51 town houses will be built as part of the plans for Beevor Street in Lincoln.

However, Councillor Bob Bushell said the university’s objection was on commercial grounds and “not a material planning matter” that councillors should consider.

“It is somewhat curious that the university have made the objection considering that they are a provider themselves,” he said.

“I understand that they have concerns, but they are more commercial concerns.”

A visual of the town houses from Morrisons’ car park.

He added that the town houses would also give students “purpose built” accommodation and “relieve pressure” on residential areas.

Councillor Ronald Hills said local people would feel like ‘Brenda in Bristol’ and said it was a “strange application”.

“A lot is made of town houses, but that is not a description I would put on them,” he said.

“They are student flats and I think people will think ‘oh no, not another lot’.”

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