More student accommodation approved for Sunderland, this time in former gym

Earlier this year, plans were lodged to convert the Olympia Fitness and Beauty Centre at 56 High Street West.

The site covers the first and second floors of a large unit in the West Walk Retail parade, near Keel Square.

New plans from Castlecap Investments Ltd aimed to transform the site into student apartments with a total of 13 bedrooms.

This included two ‘cluster’ apartments on the first floor with five bedrooms within one apartment and two within the other.

The second floor would also provide one cluster apartment with six bedrooms.

Each apartment would have a communal kitchen and living area and all bedrooms would offer an en-suite bathroom, double bed and TV.

A statement from the applicant’s agent, included in planning documents, said the development met key policy tests around student accommodation including ‘meeting an identified need’, sustainability and high quality living standards.

Developers added that if there were any issues letting the rooms in future, the site could be ‘easily converted’ into three residential apartments through a further planning application.

Following consultation, the student development was approved by Sunderland City Council’s planning authority on Wednesday, September 9.

A decision report said the site is based in a sustainable location with plans “assisting in diversifying the choice of residential accommodation.”

It reads: “It is considered that the principle of the proposed use of the property for student accommodation is acceptable.

“The proposal is unlikely to adversely impact upon the visual amenities of the host property or the area in general, residential amenity or highway safety.

“The proposal has been found to be acceptable in terms of considerations relating to noise and, subject to restrictive conditions, biodiversity.”

The report goes on to say: “The council’s parking standards state that one parking space per five beds should be provided for student accommodation within the city centre.

“However, it is evident that no parking is available for either the existing use or the proposed use at the site.

“Given the existing use of the site and its very accessible location with excellent links to public transport it is considered that on balance the application is acceptable and no objections are raised by transportation development.”

The student accommodation plans are the latest to be approved in the city.

This follows last week’s decision by the council’s Planning and Highways (East) Committee to approve the demolition of Sunderland University’s Forster Building to make way for a 258-bed student development.

A ruling on plans to transform the former county court buildings, off John Street, into 45 student apartments is also expected this year.

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