Go-ahead for expansion of Leeds halls of residence

Leeds City Council’s South and West plans panel yesterday approved the proposal to increase the units at Mary Morris House in Shire Oak Road from 206 to 247.

An earlier bid to add 117 new bedspaces was dropped by the applicant.

The application had received 35 letters of objection, and local MP Greg Mulholland had commented on the plan bringing an “imbalance in the demographics of the area” and other issues, according to a report presented to the committee.

Today’s meeting at Leeds Civic Hall was told that noise, litter and parking issues were all of major concerns and locals felt “powerless”.

They urged the panel to defer their decision until a “bolstered” management plan for the expanded halls could be promised.

A representative for the applicant, Campbell Property, told the panel that the proposal had been “significantly reduced” from the original application and the developer had “listened to the concerns raised”. A warden, 24-hour helpline for locals and a restriction on large social gatherings outside the halls have all been included.