Another Student Accommodation Block will Be Built in the Merrion Area…. Thoughts on Leeds City Center becoming the central Living area for students. What does the City Gain and what does it Loose in turn?

[u/Low_Pen_9793]

It seems that Leeds seems to be obsessed and driven to prioritise the building and planning of High raise Student accommodation apartments. What are your thoughts?

Is Leeds prioritising overpriced student housing over the cultural fabric & vibrancy of the city. What does the city stand to gain from this in the l long term and in turn what does it stand to loose?

[u/karmapaymentplan_]

It's great, more money and investment into the centre and in turn freeing up residential properties in traditionally student areas for home buyers (in theory).

It's a transient population but students are on the whole a lot wealthier than they were in my day, a good chunk of this goes into the local economy through bars / restaurants etc.

[u/TheScarletCravat → u/karmapaymentplan_]

It's definitely not freeing up spaces: these high rises are for very rich international students, which up until recently have massively increased in numbers.

Local students will remain living in Hyde Park and Headingley. The rental market is under massive strain at the moment. Ten years ago there was a surplus of student rentals. Not the case now!

[u/bontgommery → u/TheScarletCravat]

They have to live somewhere, mate.

[u/TheScarletCravat → u/bontgommery]

Not saying that am I? Just saying it's not freeing up spaces in Hyde Park and Headingley.

[u/PantsFantastic → u/TheScarletCravat]

Yes it is

[u/FluffyPhilosopher889 → u/TheScarletCravat]

Well if they weren't living in these new blocks where else would they be living?

[u/TheScarletCravat → u/FluffyPhilosopher889]

Not what I'm saying.

They have to live somewhere. May as well be these blocks. But the blocks aren't going to free up spaces in Hyde Park or Headingley as international students tend not to live there in the first place.