Former church building to become student flats

Plans to convert part of Loughborough's Schofield Centre into student flats have been approved.

Charnwood Borough Council has granted permission for SHM Letting Ltd to turn the southern section of the building at the junction of Greenclose Lane and Ashby Road into a 28-bed complex.

Plans submitted to the authority said the development would also include a gym, study area, TV room and common rooms.

Documents said the centre was previously used as a community church and kitchen, with offices and a nursery on the upper floors.

The Schofield Centre is made up of "two distinct parts", the documents said.

The northern section consists of the original Technical College Instructional Factory built in 1918, while the southern section - the subject of the application - was extended in 1938.

The northern section was converted into student accommodation as part of the Optima Student Living project.

Documents submitted for the southern section said the "building has fallen out of useful life".

They added the basement of the building would be renovated to continue to act as a plant area but would also include facilities such as a gym, study areas and media suite.

A section 106 agreement as part of the application will see the developer make contributions towards healthcare services and for improvements to town parks and open spaces in the Charnwood area.

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