PERMISSION is being sought to let out rooms to non-students at Chester's Northgate Studios due to the accommodation provider receiving "barely any bookings" for the next academic year.

Primus Property Group wants to vary a condition to the planning consent it was granted for its 150-bedroom development on Trafford Street, which would enable it to be used for unrestricted residential accommodation until July 31, 2022.

In a planning application submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council, it states that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has rendered the Northgate Studios as "almost completely empty and unused".

The student accommodation provider says there is "very real interest" from residents in letting rooms which would be "perfectly suited" for the needs of key workers.

It adds that pre-application discussions with the council to seek advice over the proposal indicated that the plans would be "resisted", but they hope the "unique circumstances" of the Covid-19 crisis will influence the planning authority's thinking.

However, highways officer Paul Parry says nothing in the proposal has changed the views he expressed at the pre-application stage and as a result he remains unsupportive of the plans.

He has significant concerns about insufficient car and cycle parking provision as the proposal "effectively converts the building to a more main-stream residential type development".

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, who have been consulted on the plans, says use of the premises for short term letting is "not appropriate with the current level of fire precautions in place", and it hopes evidence of suitable measures will be provided to them before any change of use is granted.

Chester and District Standard:

Primus Property Group also operates Northgate Point in Chester.

Roman Summer Associates, acting on behalf of Primus Property Group, states in the planning application: "As with many walks of life, Covid 19 has had a catastrophic impact on education and the day to day lives of students.

"There are very serious questions about if and how FE establishments will function again in the short and medium term future, and this had had an inevitable impact on the number of students applying for accommodation.

"As it stands, our client (as owner of both Northgate Studios and the proximate Northgate Point accommodation) has received barely any bookings by students for the next academic year, and it is widely accepted that the implications of Covid 19 will continue to impact on the student market for some time to come.

"This renders Northgate Studios and Northgate Point almost completely empty and unused.

"This proposal – if approved – would allow for the continued sustainable use of the accommodation for the short term future, after which (we all hope) some semblance of normality might have returned to the world and its economy, at which point the appellant is perfectly agreeable to revert back to the condition as it was imposed by the appeal inspector.

"It is perhaps worth noting at this stage that the appellant is facing precisely the same problems with their Northgate Point scheme, but this application in isolation relates to the Northgate Studios."

Paul Parry, of the council's highways department, states: "I have significant concerns about this proposal to allow key workers/young professionals to reside on this site.

"This effectively converts the building to a more main-stream residential type development. It would be expected that such a residential use would need to provide for a suitable level of car parking for the residents. Clearly the site provides for no such parking."

Responding to the plans, Simon Swainston of Cheshire Fire Authority, wrote: "Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) consider that the use of the premises for short term lettings or summer letting is not appropriate with the current level of fire precautions in place.

"This was confirmed by a Fire Engineering Report submitted on 21st December 2017 to support the Building Regulations submission and stated; “It has been assumed that the development will not be used for summer letting. If this is not the case then additional fire safety precautions may be required."

"To date CFRS have not received the Final Certificate to indicate that the building has been constructed in accordance with Building Regulations nor has it received an amended fire strategy to support a change of use to the building.

"It should be noted that on occupation of the building where the fire precautions are not suitable and sufficient for the use of the premises, then CFRS as the enforcing authority for the Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) Order 2005 may take all necessary measures to ensure compliance.

"It is hoped that evidence of suitable fire precautions will be provided to CFRS prior to any permitted change of use."