Student accommodation planning application submitted

A planning application has been submitted by the council’s development partners, energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE and Cityheart Partnerships, for purpose-built student accommodation at Station Approach.

Along with accompanying hard and soft landscaping, cycle parking, and accessible parking with fast charging points for electric cars, there will be public art designed and made by the students.

The site is to the north east of the new Hereford City Link Road and is perfectly located for access to the Hereford College of Arts (HCA) and the city centre, being right at the heart of the public transport system.

The main customer for the facility is Hereford College of Arts (HCA), which has a proven demand for purpose-built student accommodation and needs good quality student housing to support its growth plans. There will also be rooms allocated for students of the new university, NMiTE, supporting its development.

Local residents and businesses were invited to preview the proposals earlier this month at a consultation event at the Shire Hall in Hereford.

Consideration will be given to possible alternatives to the parking spaces currently available on the site, which are mainly used by rail commuters.

Station Approach is part of Herefordshire Council’s Development and Regeneration Programme (DRP) in partnership with ENGIE which will deliver the programme over the next 10 to 20 years. The programme will support the council’s economic vision for the county which includes support for the delivery of the new university and Hereford’s existing colleges.

Cllr Harry Bramer, cabinet member contracts and assets, said: “The exciting proposals for Station Approach demonstrate our commitment to supporting the growth of our local economy and improving Herefordshire as a place to live, work and visit. As well as supporting the economic development of the region, this purpose-built student accommodation at Station Approach will promote Herefordshire as a great place to study.”

Abigail Appleton, Hereford College of Arts, said: “This opportunity plays an important role in our plans to attract more students than ever before to Hereford for creative degree programmes at Hereford College of Arts.  We are also excited about the way that student and staff  artwork will help make this building an inspirational gateway to the city and represent our city’s great creative heritage and future.  

“We believe that collaboration between HCA, NMiTE and Herefordshire Council will help promote Hereford across the UK and beyond as a centre for exceptional specialist education.”

David Nolan, NMiTE, added: “We are fully supportive of these exciting proposals and delighted to be partnering with HCA as customers for this purpose-built accommodation which will, we hope, make an important contribution to our requirements for our September 2020 intake of learner engineers”.

Mick Mills, Regional Managing Director for ENGIE’s Places & Communities division, said: “We’re really excited to be making progress with this high quality development, which will help to cement Herefordshire’s place as a top destination for students. We’re looking forward to working with our partners over the coming years to make a real difference to the region.”