Ashbrookes has been granted planning permission to transform a former Sunderland job centre into a purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development. Sunderland City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee ruled on the application for the scheme located at 60-66 John Street in the city centre.
Proposals, designed by Mario Minchella Architects, include re-purposing the existing building and extending it by a further two floors to offer 84 PBSA studios.
Council planners noted that Ashbrookes’ amended scheme, from the original proposal in December 2023, had been welcomed by the council’s conservation team and would offer high-quality accommodation, including a communal lounge and gym. The development will also offer cycle and refuse storage and servicing/parking.
The proposed development will contain:
- Six residential studios with communal lounge, office, refusal store, bike store, laundry, storage and plant room (ground floor).
- 22 residential studios with IT/Network media, communal gymnasium, lounge and store (first floor).
- 28 residential studios and store (new build second floor).
- 28 residential studios and store (new build third floor).
“This appears to be a very high quality proposal, it’s going to bring life back into a disused building in the very centre of the city and is going to bring more residents into the city centre.
“I think when you have a good residential offer for students, it puts pressure on other student rental providers to up their game and improve what they offer, so I don’t see any drawbacks with approving this.”
Martyn Herron, Councillor, Sunderland City Council
