Our improved proposals
The proposals seek to demolish the existing Blenheim House office building on Duncombe Street and replace it with a new Purpose Built Student Accommodation development. The site is well located within a 20-minute walk of the city’s university campuses and close to Leeds train station and the city’s main shopping and leisure areas.
Changes that we've made to our plans
The proposed building will range between 7 and 20 storeys, contributing to the evolving Leeds city skyline and complementing nearby developments.
As a result of our ongoing dialogue with the local council and conversations that we've had with local residents and community organisations, we have reduced the footprint of the building by removing a central column of rooms. This change means that:
We can include planting and new trees along the A58 boundary
The number of beds reduces to 699
The overall massing of the scheme is also reduced
Local feedback has also informed the scheme's architectural evolution to improve physical and visual connectivity between the scheme, the surrounding streescape, and neighbouring communities. The 'tower crown' element features enhanced verticality to strengthen the building's function as a visual landmark and we are proposing sections of ceramic tile detailing at ground and upper levels as part of a material palette that creates an engaging and welcoming design.
You can find out more about our approach to the architectural design here.
View of March 26 scheme from Marlborough Street, showing section of building that has been removed.
View of improved scheme from Marlborough Street, with reduced building mass and new tower crown.
View looking down across the A58, showing the reduced building footprint and new planting along this frontage.
The ground floor will have the main building entrance and different amenity spaces for students, with the upper floors providing a mix of bedroom types and shared kitchen areas. Please click on the images to view the updated floor plans.
Up to 699 student beds are proposed across a range of unit types, including a mix of studios and cluster flats, designed to exceed minimum space standards and ensure good daylight and living quality. The scheme is also targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’, a high-level sustainability rating achieved by delivering best practices in design, construction and operation.
Within the building, around 15,500 sq ft of amenity space will include communal areas, kitchens, quiet areas and recreational space for students to enjoy.
A secure outdoor courtyard area will have lawn and planted areas, social seating spaces, work zones and covered cycle storage for 174 bikes.
Please click the amenity plan to view.