City of London backs student housing scheme at Holborn Viaduct

Developer Dominvs Group has won planning permission for a 14-storey student housing development in the City of London that will be used by the London School of Economics.

The proposals, drawn up by architect Stiff & Trevillion, replaces an earlier Dominvs scheme for a green wall hotel and office development once touted as ‘London’s greenest building’.

The housing proposals, approved earlier this week by the City’s planning and transportation committee, will deliver 644 student beds, cultural and community space and a publicly-accessible rooftop terrace.

Planning and transportation committee chair Alistair Moss said the scheme was a “positive step” in the Square Mile’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

“The addition of new student accommodation will mark another step toward the creation of a thriving 24/7 City and we look forward to welcoming students to this area,” he said.

Dominvs received planning permission for its green hotel plans in 2020 but the firm subsequently said the pandemic had forced a re-evaluation of scheme and the LSE “emerged with a long term requirement for purpose built student accommodation”.

That 12-storey scheme was designed by Sheppard Robson and was set to feature a 400,000-plant living façade. It was due to have been built by Northern Irish firm McAleer & Rushe.