Acting on behalf of Legacie Contract, architects Falconer Chester Hall secured planning consent for the eight-storey building on the edge of Liverpool city centre. Tony McDonough reports

Planners have given the go-ahead for a £25m student accommodation development on the edge of Liverpool city centre.

Acting on behalf of Legacie Contract, architects Falconer Chester Hall applied for planning consent for the eight-storey building, comprising 280 students bedrooms, across Rose Place and St Anne Street.

It will also provide 14 commercial/retail units at ground floor level. It supersedes planning permission secured last year for a 127 residential apartment scheme, with ground floor commercial units. The existing industrial building on site will be demolished.

“It is fantastic news that we have been granted planning permission on this site” said Stephen Fieldsend, associate director at Falconer Chester Hall. “There was clearly a case for a larger and taller building to reflect the general trend towards increased massing in the area.

“Rose Place is excellently positioned for the north of the city and close to the convergence of the business and knowledge quarters which are permeating in helping to shape the cultural personality of the area.”

John Morley of Legacie Contract, added: “This site provides a great opportunity to bring vibrancy to the area, that is experiencing a period of change and offer excellent student accommodation with great amenity spaces, including a games room, cinema, gym/yoga room, communal lounge and the first floor courtyard will give a sense of community.

“The approval of this application will result in job opportunities for local people both during the construction and afterwards.”