Decision on student flats plan for former jobcentre

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.

READ MORE: Sewage pipe burst kills every fish in Leicester park pond 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.