Planning permission has been awarded to developer Dominvs Group for a 644-room student scheme for London School of Economics at Holborn Viaduct. The 14-floor housing project in the City of London is designed to fulfil the growing needs of the London School of Economics.

The proposals, designed by architect Stiff & Trevillion, will replace an earlier Dominvs project for an office development and green-wall hotel that was dubbed as “London’s greenest building”. The proposals for the 644-room student scheme for London School of Economics was approved the City’s planning and transportation committee. It will develop 644 student beds, publicly-accessible rooftop terrace as well as a flexible community and cultural space at its ground and lower ground floor areas.

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London School of Economics is set to increase student’s beds capacity

Alistair Moss, the committee chair for planning and transportation stated that the project was a “positive step” in the Square Mile’s from the coronavirus pandemic recovery. “The modern student accommodation addition will mark a significant step toward the development of a sustaining 24/7 City and we anticipate to welcoming students to this region, who we believe will become future innovators and business leaders,” he added. “We are delighted by the ongoing confidence demonstrated by world-class universities, investors and developers as we continue to strive to develop the City of London ever-more inclusive and sustainable.”

Dominvs was given planning permission for the Holborn Viaduct green-hotel plans in 2020, but the company subsequently stated Covid had forced project’s re-evaluation and the London School of Economics came up with a long-term need for the purpose-built student accommodation. It added that London School of Economics was looking to increase the number of student beds from 4,500 to 6,000 in the next five years. Jay Ahluwalia, the Dominvs director stated that the Jay a 644-room student scheme for London School of Economics was of “exemplary design quality” being “highly sustainable”, aiming a BREEAM “excellent” rating.