Purpose-Built Student Accommodation on a Constrained City Centre Site
This project involved the preparation of a PBSA proposal for 67 student studios within an eight-storey building at 47 Clarence Street, Leicester City Centre. The scheme responds to the constraints of a tight brownfield site, while delivering a high-quality student living environment aligned with PBSA operational and market expectations.
Location: Leicester City Centre
Client: Private Developer
Service – Architecture
Sector: Student / Mixed Use (PBSA)
RIBA Stage: 0–3
Studio-Led Layout and Daylight Strategy
The building has been designed around efficient studio typologies, including a mix of standard and accessible units. Internal layouts, orientation and massing were developed to optimise daylight and outward views, ensuring good levels of amenity despite the site’s density and urban context.
The scheme balances unit efficiency with livability, supporting long-term operational performance.
Communal Amenity Provision
Communal space is provided throughout the building to support student wellbeing and social interaction. Rooftop gardens form a key part of the amenity offer, delivering valuable outdoor space within the city centre and enhancing the overall resident experience.
Shared facilities are positioned to be easily accessible and to complement the private studio accommodation.
Active Ground Floor and Urban Integration
Retail accommodation is proposed at ground floor level to activate the frontage and contribute to the surrounding shopping area. This mixed-use approach supports footfall, enhances street presence and helps integrate the PBSA scheme into the wider city centre context.
Our Role
Marrons led the architectural design and preparation of the pre-application proposals at RIBA Stages 0–3, developing the massing, layout and amenity strategy in response to site constraints, PBSA requirements and the urban setting.
Key Challenges
- Delivering PBSA density on a constrained brownfield site
- Optimising daylight and views within an eight-storey form
- Providing meaningful communal and outdoor amenity space
- Integrating retail use at ground level within a student-focused scheme
