UNITE granted permission to build a student tower in Stratford

The planning application for the 28 storey student tower was approved by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) planning committee on Tuesday evening. Since 2006 the ODA has had the authority to decide all planning applications that relate to land within the ODA Planning area.

The scheme will provide student accommodation to nearly 1,000 students in London and includes a total development area of 250,000 square feet.

The proposed plans include a mixture of apartments and studios which are spread over the 28 storey tower. The plans also include 11,000 sq ft of communal space, a courtyard and 480 bicycle spaces.

“This development is a great addition to Stratford and the transformation taking place in East London," said John Burton, director of Westfield Stratford City, according to a CoStar report. "The accommodation Unite propose to deliver will complement the retail and leisure at Westfield Stratford City as well as the 1.1m sq ft of offices we are delivering, together with homes and hotels. The area is undergoing major change and the opening of Westfield Stratford City this year represented the first piece of the long term legacy.”

The scheme is being built on land owned by Stratford City Developments Ltd, the Westfield vehicle that controls zone one of the 180 acre Stratford City development site. It is thought that UNITE is in discussions to eventually acquire the site from partner Westfield.

"We are particularly excited about this scheme and are confident that the continued investment being made in the area, as a result of the Olympic Games, coupled with a favourable and ongoing supply/demand dynamic in the student accommodation sector in London, will make this scheme a great success,” said Richard Simpson, managing director of property for UNITE, according to the CoStar report.