Asylum hostel plan for student flats blocked

Plans to convert student flats in Leeds into a hostel for asylum seekers have been blocked by the council.

The Home Office applied for a change of use for Mary Morris House on Shire Oak Road in Headingley last August.

It could have seen the building, which is currently occupied by students, used to accommodate people seeking to settle in the UK.

Leeds City Council refused the application, but said the Home Office had the right to appeal its decision.

A statement from Labour ward councillors Jonathan Pryor and Abdul Hannan said: "At this stage, the next steps are entirely up to the Home Office.

"We have already written to residents in the immediate area around Mary Morris as we felt it right they learn from us directly rather than through Facebook.

"But we appreciate interest in this goes beyond the immediate streets surrounding Mary Morris halls."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the application was for a Certificate of Proposed Lawful Development, which would have allowed a change of use without a full planning application.

Council planners decided the proposal represented a material change of use, so full permission was needed.

The councillors said planning law and factual evidence was used to make the decision.

They added: "The Home Office could now submit a full planning application, which would be subject to a full public consultation, where residents would be able to submit comments in support, opposition or neutral.

"Students are still currently living in Mary Morris and nothing has changed on site.

"We will continue to update everyone as further updates reach us."

Mary Morris was built in the 1970s as University of Leeds halls, but the building has since been refurbished and is now owned and managed privately.

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