If it wins planning permission the development would also provide 77 affordable homes, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for the Wood Green student flats (credit Tri7/Fusion Group)

Plans for a 623-room student development and accompanying affordable housing scheme in Wood Green have been submitted to Haringey Council.

Developers Tri7 and student accommodation specialists Fusion Group are set to build four buildings up to nine storeys in height situated a two-minute walk away from the town centre.

Currently the site, located at 707-725 Lordship Lane, is occupied by a Mecca Bingo and car park, which will be demolished to make way for the project.

The development will also see 77 affordable homes built, comprising 25 shared ownership apartments, 45 social rent flats and seven social rent five-bedroom townhouses.

This means 100% of the residential component will be affordable, while of the total number of student flats, 62 (around 10%) will be classed as affordable.

Several public consultations were held last year, including public events and the launch of a dedicated website so residents could give feedback. According to the planning statement, feedback was “generally positive” with respondents noting the “potential to revitalise” the site.

Kanda, a consulting firm that carried out the engagement exercises, found neighbours had concerns over the height and massing of the development and its impact on views.

Residents questioned whether it would be “sympathetic to the existing character of the area” and whether it would “drastically alter their views”.

In response the developers said the buildings had been “carefully designed” to be “sympathetic to the dynamic of the Wood Green town centre”.

Residents had a “mixed” attitude towards the provision of student accommodation, some saying it would bring “vibrancy” to the town centre while others were concerned about the impact on the residential areas.

This included “increased noise” and the “strain” on local infrastructure such as the “waste disposal and public transportation”. In response, the developers said there was a “need for more student accommodation”.

They said currently a “significant” number of students were living in the private housing sector in Haringey and said the development’s design catered “more effectively” to student’s needs as well as alleviating the pressure on the housing market and “freeing up” housing for local residents.

The scheme offers 796 square metres of ground floor space which is set to include a “working space”, community cafe and potential community art installations.

The proposal would also provide amenity space for the public, including a children’s play area and a rain garden.

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