Client
Valorem investment Partners
Sectors
Residential
Council
Luton Borough Council
Key Project Information
- Conversion of student accommodation to co-living accommodation
- 10 blocks of student apartments will be converted to accommodate space for 459 co-living residents
- The scheme will also provide cycle storage, public realm works, and landscaping
We have been supporting our client, Valorem Investment Partners, since 2020, to prepare and implement a planning strategy to deliver a new sustainable use at this important gateway site.
Following success at appeal in 2021, which allowed the change of use from student accommodation to residential use, we prepared and submitted a further detailed application to change the use of the student accommodation to new high-quality co-living accommodation.
Co-living accommodation provides private bedrooms and bathrooms, with shared kitchens and living facilities. The scheme offers new, high-quality accommodation in an accessible location, with new private landscaped amenity areas and public realm works around the perimeter of the site.
The proposals allow the sustainable re-use of 10 existing modern student halls buildings to provide flexible living accommodation in a town centre location and will enhance the biodiversity value of the site.
We worked with the local planning authority (LPA) to proactively respond to consultee feedback to secure a recommendation for approval which was endorsed by the LPA’s planning committee in March 2024.