© Provided by Worcester NewsPLAN: Sansome Hall in Sansome Place, Worcester (Image: Google Maps)
A MOVE has been made to allow an empty multi-million-pound student accommodation block in the city centre to be opened up to young adults in supported living.
The four-storey 83-bed Sansome Hall in Sansome Walk, Worcester, which was built in 2008 as student accommodation, has been left mostly empty because of a stipulation that means only students can rent in the building.
The building has since been sold - and was last listed with a guide price of £3.5m - and London-based Marson Property, self-referred to in the application as a 'potential buyer' for the city centre building, wants to scrap a rule included in the original planning permission from 2007 which limits tenants to only those in full-time education at either college or university.
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The move would see the building remain with students during term time with the one-bed digs then handed over as supported accommodation for 16-to-25-year-olds outside of the school calendar.
According to the application, Marson Property is working with a charity to help provide additional supported accommodation for younger adults.
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There are currently almost 1,500 applications for one-bed and 900 applications for two-bed accommodation in Worcester, according to the city council.
In response to the application, the council's housing enabling officer Daniel Russell said the move would help address the "significant" shortage of affordable housing in the city.
"The accommodation would yield much need single person accommodation as Worcester has significant issues with supply of and demand for affordable housing for both singles, couples and families," he said.
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"There is also increasing demand for accommodation within the private rented sector, especially in the city centre where demand and a buoyant economy is increasing rental values.
"The development is ideally located in the centre of Worcester city centre, near to employment opportunities and retail and leisure amenities. It is also near to the Foregate Street station, so would be a popular location.
"Sansome Hall was built by Severn Vale Housing and designed as student accommodation for the University of Worcester but has been sold since the ending of the contract for this use a few years ago.
"It has stood empty for some time due to the occupancy restrictions for students only within the agreement and this deed of variation is necessary for the building to contribute to addressing wider housing needs within the city."