Uni for East End’s High St 2012’ fails planning test

PLANS for a huge pre-university complex along East London’s High Street 2012’ have been thrown out after the local authority slammed them as a “glorified warehouse for students.” The proposals were rejected by Tower Hamlets’ after protests about its bulk and size

By Gemma Collins

PLANS for a huge pre-university complex along East London’s High Street 2012’ have been thrown out this week after the local authority slammed them as a “glorified warehouse for students.”

Proposals for an education facility’ providing foundation courses for pre-university students, right opposite Queen Mary College campus at Mile End, were rejected by Tower Hamlets’ strategic development committee after protests about its bulk and size.

The development, including an 11-storey tower, would have 900 student rooms and a lecture theatre with a capacity of 300.

PETITION

Families on the neighbouring Ocean housing estate sent a petition to the Town Hall.

The tenants’ chair Brenda Daley told Tuesday’s committee meeting: “We already have thousands of students on our doorstep. If this went ahead, we’ll have 1,400 student flats next door.”

The development was to be part of the High Street 2012’ regeneration vision for the Mile End Road, setting up Tower Hamlets as “a centre of excellence in higher education.”

But the authority fears the influx of so many students would strain public services and cause havoc for residents.

Assurances that the campus management would deal with potential problems had “not been that robust,” they said.