Decision made over student flats plan for former Leicester city centre Jobcentre

NewsDecision made over student flats plan for former Leicester city centre JobcentreThe offices have been on the market for yearsleicestermercuryBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByHannah

RichardsonLocal Democracy Reporter16:26, 2 JUN 2025BookmarkThe Jobcentre has been on the market for over two years (Image: Google)Get the latest Leicestershire Live breaking news on WhatsApp

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A plan to bring a former city Jobcentre back into use as student flats has been decided. The former New Walk offices have been on the market as employment space since March 2023, but have

remained vacant ever since, planning documents state.

Now, plans to convert the building into apartments have been approved by planning officers at Leicester City Council. The development will see studio 60 flats created there. A studio is a

small flat in which a single room has a variety of uses, eg living room, bedroom and kitchen, usually with a separate bathroom.

Officers added the living spaces are below nationally recommended space standards. However, as the flats are for students, rather than for use as permanent residences, this is considered

acceptable.

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There would be enough communal areas in the new accommodation block to compensate for the smaller rooms, officers felt. Both indoor and outdoor communal spaces would be provided, plans

showed, with the existing courtyard area to be landscaped and have seating added.

The scheme is to be “car free”. Officers said this was fine as the former Jobcentre is in a “highly sustainable” city centre location, and is within walking distance of Leicester’s two

universities.

Limited changes are required for the outside of the building, documents added. These include replacing doors and windows, and adding new planting beds to New Walk.

In granting their permission, officers recommended a condition be attached which limits residency of the building to students only.