32-bed student flats plan for Rougier Street, York

Plans have been submitted for a 32-bed scheme in an empty office block in Rougier Street.

The move follows further consultation being announced on a 1,450 bed scheme on the Sainsbury’s site at Foss Bank.

Bradford-based Ethan Investments and Properties seek to change the use of the three-storey Rougier House, which is next to Northern House.

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Built in the early 1990s, Rougier House was on the market earlier this year for £1.9million.

Earlier this week, plans were submitted to demolish the seven-storey Northern House and replace it with a Dakota Hotel.

The area was part of the proposed Roman Quarter scheme, which was abandoned earlier this year.

The new application seeks 32 studios, with 7 on the ground floor, 8 on the first and second floors and a mezzanine introduced within the roof to create a new third floor to house 9 further studios.

Parking for 36 bikes would be provided in a courtyard to the rear.

The application said the use of the building is an ‘appropriate and sustainable’ alternative use of the site, with good links to the University of York and York St John University.

City of York planning policies have already determined that residential use in the area is acceptable.

Recommending approval, the application concluded: “The change in nature of City centre uses is evolving and the provision of student accommodation in this sustainable location will add to the vibrancy and levels of economic activity in this part of the City Centre."