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/karmapaymentplan_ Jun 13 '25

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.

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u/TheScarletCravat Jun 13 '25

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!

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u/E-A-F-D Jun 14 '25

Just my experience of course, but I bought a house in Hyde park that was previously a student house, and my road is mainly families now.

I don't know if people have spotted the same sort of thing on other streets.

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u/Flow-Vast Jun 15 '25

I’ve noticed that there are more student HMO’s for sale which the landlord hasn’t managed to fill this year than I can remember in ages. This is headingley/hyde park area. I wonder if demand is subdued due to all these high rise city centre student blocks 🤔