Leeds city centre is in no short supply of student flats, with an abundance of historic buildings developed in recent years and more on the way.
Plans have been announced to rip down Briggate’s House of Fraser for a student build. Plus there’s plans to convert the former Victoria and Commercial Hotel and the old Masonic Hall next door, both stand opposite Leeds Town Hall.
A cleaner in the Merrion Centre spoke of how “rude” many of the students can be as he sees more and more of the young people walking through the city-centre. Patrick Bogle, 59, father-of-one, has said he’s tried to put them right but to no avail.
Patrick, originally from Jamaica, said: “We get a lot of new students, some of them are rude kids and you can’t get rid of them. These teenagers today, they haven’t grown up like we used to. Lack of manners.”
Relenting ever so slightly, the father-of-one added: “Education is the key, so [more accommodation] it’s good for the young ones. It’s the ones that are roaming the streets, I wish they could get somewhere else to put those ones are those ones are the trouble.
“Sometimes I talk to them, I say ‘Why do you leave your home just to make trouble? Be safe and be a good kid’. Some of them say back rude words but they’re just young, you’ve got to leave them with that.”
Former Merrion Centre worker Elena Valle, 59, is delighted with the influx of student properties being developed. Elena is a mother-of-one, 33, and lives close to the city centre in Little London, Woodhouse.
Elena said: “It’s good because the city’s income is coming up and these buildings are new. More people is good for business. They are all so happy. I am happy when it’s busy here.
“I’ve never seen any trouble. I worked for six years in the Merrion Centre as a cleaner.”
Student Miya Bennet, 19, who lives in a student city-centre flat spoke of how “convenient” it was. The first-year Leeds Beckett University fine art student said: “It’s great that everything is like, here. You’ve got the shops and things to do. It’s the near the uni as well, so it’s quite convenient.
“The city-centre is a bit pricier, but everything is around here. You don’t have to drive because there’s public transport everywhere. The train station isn’t far from here and everything is walking distance.”
Although the Doncaster teen has decided to move away from the city-centre next year as she’s been priced-out of one bed flats, she’ll be living a short drive away from the city centre.
Masters students Xinyne Cheng and Yijie Li also had positive words to say about the student accommodation. The Chinese students are studying performance design at the University of Leeds.
Xinyne, 24, lives in one of the city centre tower block. Xinyne said: “It’s very nice, convenient. Leeds is smaller but more modern than my hometown. I’m from the third largest city in China.
“There’s lots of supermarkets and restaurants here. Living here is very convenient. I miss my mum’s cooking at home. The restaurants are okay here.”
Read next:
