Student resi plans submitted

Worthington Properties has submitted planning applications for two student housing schemes on sites acquired from University of Liverpool.

Philharmonic Court, off Catherine Street behind Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, would replace five outdated student blocks with two linked buildings of up to six floors. The new blocks would contain 354 rooms in clusters of four to six bedrooms, with a private courtyard for students.

The project would retain and refurbish 21 Georgian terraces neighbouring the student blocks to be made available for private ownership. There would be a pedestrian route linking Caledonia Street to Falkner Street.

Secondly, in Great Newton Street, four new buildings would be built of between four and seven storeys with 267 rooms in total on the site of a car park and disused former university property. There would be a private student garden and amenity area.

The architect for both projects is Leach Rhodes Walker.

Steve Dickson, director of estates and facilities at the University of Liverpool, said: "The sale of these two sites is in line with our residences strategy and will play an important part in delivering a mix of quality accommodation for students in the city. Worthington Properties has a track record in delivering quality student accommodation which was important when considering our preferred purchaser."

Russell Worthington, development director of Worthington Properties, based in Preston, added: "These are two important accommodation projects for Liverpool in that we'll be bringing high quality stock to the marketplace, improving the urban environment and creating buildings that are architecturally special yet sympathetic to the area.

"We are proud to work in partnership with Liverpool University and Liverpool City Council to design a product that will help Liverpool University attract national and international students to the city. In addition, the investment by Liverpool University will help to create employment as we will be looking to work with suppliers and recruit from the area."

Subject to planning approvals, construction of Philharmonic Court will be completed in two phases with the student accommodation finished in mid-2015 followed by the refurbishment of the Georgian Terrace in 2016. Great Newton Street will be finished in September 2014.