Client

Olympian Homes

Local Authority

Leeds City Council

Project Description

New Student Accommodation Scheme

Arena Point is a 45-storey purpose-built student accommodation scheme being brought forward by Olympian Homes on Merrion Way in Leeds City Centre.

The scheme delivered 705 beds across a mix of studio apartments and shared cluster flats alongside communal amenity space and public realm improvements to Merrion Way. Located close to the First Direct Arena, the development replaces an existing office block and will sit between existing tall buildings on Merrion Way including 36-storey Altus House, another
Olympian Homes student accommodation scheme currently under construction. Arena Point has surpassed Altus House as Leeds’ tallest building.

Achievements

DPP acted as planning consultant on the project and led extensive pre-application discussions with Leeds City Council. Through careful negotiations with officers, as well as presentations and discussions with Member of Leeds’ Plans Panel (Planning Committee), DPP were able to agree a building design with the Council at pre-application stage, minimising the risk in progressing the project to full application stage.

DPP went on to prepare, submit and project manage the planning application for the development, coordinating the project team in addressing key consideration relating to highways impact; amenity, visual impact and daylight/sunlight implications.

As a result of the extensive pre-application discussions, comprehensive submission package and responses to consultee queries, there were no objection to the planning application from any of the technical consultees. As a result, the planning application was approved under delegated powers.