CONTROVERSIAL plans to build accommodation for nearly 300 students alongside the canal in Leamington have been resubmitted.
Business owners in the Althorpe Street area teamed up to create Althorpe Street Developments after expressing concern about the future of land off Radford Road and adjoining the canal.
But the developers withdrew the application some months ago following nearly 100 objections being received online.
They have now resubmitted the plans, which still say they hope to create a 273 bed student block and employment space creating up to 50 new jobs.
The canalside development would be based opposite Rangemaster – between the railway bridge and footbridge, and would be just along from The Union student accommodation, which has 187 bedrooms and was built around two years ago.
Warwick District Labour Group leader Kristie Naimo, who is running for councillor of Brunswick ward, said she was shocked to see the application had been resubmitted.
She told the Observer: “I’m surprised the developers have the audacity to resubmit a scheme so very similar to the previous one they withdrew only a couple of months ago. What changes can they have made in this time that would make it more acceptable?
“The previous proposal for student housing had no support from the local community or the council. The developer was told it would not be compliant with local policies for the area which seeks to protect this as employment land.
“The new application has not addressed the concerns raised previously – traffic objections, loss of employment and loss of the trees along the canal towpath.”
Althorpe Street Developments previously said the area was underused and had suffered from lack of investment.
They also said the area had become a magnet for crime and drug users and hoped the work would ‘kick start’ regeneration’ of the area.
They hoped to create a ‘canalside culture’ for residents and support surrounding universities.
When the plans were originally unveiled a spokesman for the developers said: “We want to build a vibrant community to bring positivity and creative minds to Leamington.”
