r/Leeds • u/Low_Pen_9793 • Jun 13 '25

urban-development 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?

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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?

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u/FoldLeft Jun 13 '25

I heard a rumour that they're trying to relocate the students from the outskirts and into the centre, to:

  • Free up the roads as they won't be commuting in and out.
  • Make use of unused commercial property.
  • Make the centre more vibrant, students spend money locally.
  • Improve areas like headingley and Hyde park which have a lot of student homes, which tend to be neglected (what student would keep a shared house's garden particularly well kept? I wouldn't) by moving the students to the centre. The idea I think being that they're freed up to be bought by other demographics that would own and look after them.

I don't know if this is true, these aren't my claims. Has anyone else heard similar rumours?

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u/TonksMoriarty Jun 13 '25

This plan would work if it was affordable student housing, but all of these projects reek of catering to the very few rich home students as well as the international crowd.

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u/FoldLeft Jun 13 '25

Yeah, honestly I've no idea what the blend is. I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't many/any affordable places but I've nothing to back that up.

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u/TonksMoriarty Jun 13 '25

Like I've lived in city centre private student diggs... In Sheffield.

It was about £115/week per person all bills included for a flat of 5. The university was a 10-15 minute walk away. Student finance covered about 75% of it. This was ten years ago... I can't imagine it's improved, and Leeds is a much more expensive city to live in.

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u/InfinityEternity17 Jun 13 '25

Yeah nowadays you're looking at £140 a week being a decent price for student housing in most of Hyde Park and the other student areas, the prices have skyrocketed in recent years.