A new student flats building will be the first in the country to include an 'e-gaming suite', its developer has claimed. Curran and Sons Ltd has secured planning permission for a six-storey building containing 202 flats on vacant land off Registry Street in Stoke.

Previous plans to clear the site and build 141 student flats were approved in 2020, and the existing commercial buildings have already been demolished. Planning committee members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council voted to approve the plans in line with their officers' recommendation – although concerns were raised over disabled parking.

Rob Talbot, speaking on behalf of the applicants, told the committee that Icon House, as the building will be called, would be 'high quality' student accommodation, offering a range of amenities such as a gym and a rooftop garden. He also said that the inclusion of a gaming suite would make the building particularly attractive to students on the e-sports degree at Staffordshire University.

Mr Talbot said: "We believe there is significant demand for high quality student accommodation in the area, and we aim to set a new benchmark for excellence. The project is strategically placed within a six minute walk from Staffordshire University, and just a 12 minute drive, or half an hour by public transport to Keele.

Previous plans to clear the site and build 141 flats were approved in 2020 (Nub News).

"Staffordshire University a unique e-sports gaming degree, which is growing in popularity. In response, Icon will be the purpose- built student accommodation in the country to include an e-gaming suite, fully equipped to meet the specific needs of the programme."

Mr Talbot added that the development would bring 'much-needed revitalisation' to a derelict site.

Officers recommended the scheme for approval, saying that the principle of building student accommodation on the site was already considered acceptable. The proposed building will be the same height and not significantly larger than the original scheme.

The building backs on to the Fowlea Brook, but the Environment Agency is currently carrying out a multi-million pound scheme to reduce flooding risk. On-site car parking is not included in the development, although there will be secure cycle storage facilities.

Committee members pointed out that the council would not be able to restrict disabled parking bays on Registry Street to residents of the building, meaning disabled residents could struggle to find parking. But it was suggested that disabled parking could be allocated at nearby Copeland Street car park, which is currently being used as a depot but will reopen next year.

The new building will be the first in the country to include an 'e-gaming suite' (Nub News).

Councillor Ross Irving said he was still had concerns over the issue of disabled parking. He said: "There are 202 apartments, and the law of averages says that there will be a number of students who will be disabled.

"We've been told that this car park will reopen in late 2025. But there is no assurance that the council won't flog it off to Spud-u-Like or someone. It's a bit of a wing and a prayer, and I don't like passing applications when I have niggling doubt."

Officers told the committee that one of the proposed conditions would require the applicant to submit a scheme showing how disabled parking will be provided, allowing any concerns to be addressed. The committee voted to approve the application, subject to conditions. The applicant will also be required to contribute £22,788 towards local health infrastructure.

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