The Tottenham High Road scheme comprises 25 studio flats, nine of which will be designated affordable

Tottenham Hotspur’s plans for student flats

Haringey Council has approved plans by Tottenham Hotspur for a student accommodation scheme which includes 35% affordable housing.

The scheme at 807 Tottenham High Road comprises 25 studio flats, nine of which are affordable housing.

Speaking at a planning sub-committee on Wednesday (17th) committee member Cathy Brennan asked the developer why they’d chosen to provide student accommodation over traditional housing, given demand for the latter.

Cllr Brennan said: “We have so many people waiting for proper housing, whether it’s affordable or not there’s such a need for housing.”

But planning officers Rob Krzyzowski and Robbie McNaugher pointed out that both the London Plan and Local Plan outlined there was also high demand for student accommodation.

Rob said: “The number of private households comprising students has nearly doubled since 2011, there’s very significant growth that there are students occupying private sector dwellings and that will increase pressure on housing stock.

“Very much the policy for us is about freeing up pressure on private rented stock. Purpose-built student accommodation will free up private sector housing and general needs accommodation, so that’s the policy behind this.”

Previous plans at the site had included a retail offering and commercial and community space.

Committee member Sean O’Donovan asked, given the number of proposed student developments being built in the area, whether the “pressure” that could be placed on local resources, particularly the local libraries, had been considered.

Rob said libraries had been one of the “biggest beneficiaries” of the Community Infrastructure Levy, a charge levied by local authorities on new developments in the area, so there was “no reason to suggest that won’t continue”.

Although some concern was raised over parking and waste management, in response planning officers said the plan was “policy compliant”.

Following the debate, councillors unanimously voted through plans.

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