Vita is bringing forward plans for a mixed use development in place of the former Central Fire and Police Stations on Shakespeare Street.
Plans are expected to be submitted this month.
The proposals will ‘reactivate a prominent and currently disused site in the city centre’, with 967 high quality student rooms, gym facilities, a dance studio, games and cinema areas for students, as well as a double-height, two-level, publicly accessible Market Food Hall on the corner of Shakespeare Street and north Church Street, with space for around 500 diners.
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The scheme is being designed sensitively and sustainably to sit appropriately alongside listed buildings and the Arboretum Conservation Area.
The scheme benefits from wide, pedestrian friendly pavements, with extensive new tree planting adding significant biodiversity and amenity interest to the street scene.
Vita will be offering two types of student accommodation Vita Student – self-contained studio apartments – and House of Social – predominantly 4 & 6 bed sharing apartments designed to keep students in the city centre and free up family homes in other parts of the city.
Documents supporting the proposals state:
‘Vita Student – the world’s best student living experience. It offers student accommodation with big self-contained studio apartments including double beds, and private kitchens big enough to serve meals for new friends.
‘Vita Student marries the world class amenities such as co-study suites, gyms and private dining rooms with outstanding resident focussed services supporting wellbeing, community, and future careers.
‘Students will find everything they need to Begin Big at Vita Student – student accommodation they’ll enjoy for the rest of your life.’
The proposals state:
‘House of Social provides unrivalled access to university campuses and the city, with design-led shared apartments which encourage collaboration, independence, and productivity.
‘An escape from convention and a place for independent minds to belong, House of Social brings together the elements of city living residents love and adore such as food halls which bring communities together and provide a change of scene to inspire the mind.’
