A £14 million plan to turn a Derby office block into student accommodation have been approved by Derby City Council.
The planning approval will enable private property group Staton Young to convert Northgate House, in Agard Street, into 166 student units in time for the academic year beginning in September 2022.
Work on the 12 month redevelopment will start immediately.
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The building was acquired by Staton Young in December 2020 having been occupied by HMRC for more than 30 years as the city’s principal tax office.
The plans include a mix of clusters, studios, and double studios, close to amenities with parking in Agard Street. There will be a laundrette, gym, cinema and 24/7 security.
The building covers 45,000 sq ft and there will be an open plan communal space on the ground floor.
Russell Rigby at Rigby & Co helped with the acquisition, and Maber Architects in Derby are driving the design, with Armsons providing project management and cost consultancy advice.
The building is close to the University of Derby School of Law and Social Sciences in One Friar Gate Square which has a library, communal learning spaces, coffee shop and specialist training facilities.
Marc Brough, managing director of Staton Young said: “We are delighted that planning has been approved – we have been keen to move into the student accommodation sector for some time, and this reemphasises our deep commitment to Derby.”