Staffordshire student block Deakin’s Yard was meant to open for this September’s intake, but an interim injunction has been put in place whilst the BSR investigates potential building regulation breaches
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has launched an investigation into a 273-room high-rise student accommodation building in Newcastle-under-Lyme for a potential breach of building regulations.
The block, which only completed last month, would have housed around 230 students in September. However, the interim injunction prevents “unlawful occupation”
A BSR spokesperson said: “We were granted an injunction to stop the unlawful occupation of the building,” said a BSR spokesperson, adding that they are “working closely with relevant organisations.”
The exact breach of building regulations at Deakins Yard has not yet been revealed
According to property services partner Elavace, Deakins Yard features 122 studios with en-suites, 127 studios with en-suites and kitchens, 10 one-bedroom apartments, and 14 accessible areas, such as a cinema and study space.
A statement on Curlett Jones Estates’ website says that Keele University has confirmed that alternative student accommodation is available on campus for “both temporary and permanent stays.”
“Serious questions need answering”
Adam Jogee, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, commented on the news, saying that “This news will come as a huge shock to the students who were expecting to move into Deakin’s Yard over the coming weeks – many of whom now face uncertainty over where they will live in the long term.
“It is utterly unacceptable that – in 2025 – a brand-new building can get to the point of opening with such serious safety concerns that the Building Safety Regulator has had to step in at the eleventh hour to protect lives. We must have answers from the developers, the contractors, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council as the planning authority, and all those involved in approving and signing off this project.
“Serious questions need answering about how this project was granted planning permission, the building control processes in place, and why the project was allowed to progress when safety concerns had already been raised. My constituents – and the students affected – deserve to know who is responsible and how this will be put right.”
The building’s owner, Integritas Property Group Ltd, said: “We can confirm that the launch of Deakin’s Yard has been temporarily delayed, pending the receipt of a final certificate. We are working closely with the Health and Safety Executive and the Building Inspectorate to address the matter and ensure all requirements are met. Our priority is to resolve this as quickly as possible and to ensure the building meets the highest standards of safety and compliance before launching.”
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