Green light for city centre student studio flats
LDRSPlans for student studio flats in a city centre have been approved.
Sunderland City Council granted permission to convert the upper floors of 23 and 24 Derwent Street into single-occupancy flats, along with a first-floor extension.
The site is near the city's Park Lane transport interchange.
Council planners said the development would address an "identified shortfall in student accommodation" and would be accessible to the University of Sunderland.
There is empty commercial space on the ground floor of the building, which according to submitted planning documents has been vacant for some time.
The flats would be arranged across two floors, each with an en-suite and kitchenette with an electric hob and oven, the documents said.
The applicant claimed the plans would help the city attract and retain more highly skilled workers.
Although there is no communal space in the development, council planners said the "rooms are relatively spacious and have demonstrated that adequate facilities for day-to-day living could be provided".
They also said there was "ample open space" nearby.
On parking matters, council planners said the property is in the city centre and "highly accessible, well served by local transport networks and within the S2 City Centre parking zone" - meaning residents can apply to park in council-owned car parks.
Under planning conditions, the development must be constructed within three years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
