Bradford student flats could be used to house graduates and key workers
The owners of Horton House have applied to change the use of the building - blaming falling student numbers
A HUGE student flats block in Bradford can now also be used by graduates, key workers, and people attending conferences in the city.
Horton House on Great Horton Road is an accommodation building that has space for more than 500 students.
When it was built in 2005, it was under the condition that the flats could only be used by students.
But earlier this year, Man Co applied to Bradford Council for permission to change the use of the building.
The company said student numbers in the city were falling and this included a drop in international students, one of the main groups that used Horton House.
In the application, the company said it now planned to allow recently graduated students and key workers to stay in the building’s many flats. They also want to be able to let out the flats during periods where there are no students, such as summer breaks.
In the change of use application, the company also said: “We would also like to be able to offer the accommodation for use during vacations by delegates attending conferences, exhibitions, courses, training, graduations and other events which are taking place at a recognised educational establishment.”
Referring to the drop in the number of students requiring accommodation, the application said: “The climate of increased cost of living that means more students are local and living at home to study. There has been a reduction in foreign students and Horton House historically had a large number of foreign student residents therefore this has had a major impact on tenancy.
“The current tenancy rate is, and has been, below the requirements to be able to keep operating the residence and Man Co face the decision to open the building to similar types of resident to allow the building to stay open, or the building and company will not be able to continue into the future and the building will lie empty.
“Horton House office receives large numbers of enquiries for accommodation from graduates and young professionals seeking well managed, cost effective housing. At present the management team have to turn down these enquires despite the low occupancy rates and this is jeopardising the future of the residency.”
Planning officers at Bradford Council have now approved the changes.
They said: “This change aims to ensure the continued viability of the building, particularly during low demand periods, such as summer vacation, and also to address the declining number of student occupancy at the site.
“Expanding the demographic of residents is considered necessary to support the ongoing use and function of the building, as such, the principle of development is supported.”