Waugh Investments Limited lodged the application on May 1, seeking permission to redevelop 33-41 Ratcliffe Terrace. The plans outline the construction of purpose-built student accommodation with 115 beds across 31 units, alongside a ground floor commercial unit, as well as associated landscaping, cycle parking, and access routes.

The proposed development is designed around three distinct blocks:

• Block A would front Ratcliffe Terrace, spanning four storeys to complement the surrounding tenement-style buildings and reinforce the existing street frontage.
• Block B would be set behind Block A, separated by a small courtyard. Positioned to the north, it continues the alignment of the central structure.
• Block C, the smallest of the three, would be a three-storey block accessed from South Gray Street. It would help form an enclosed courtyard along the site’s mutual boundary.

Currently, the buildings at 33-41 Ratcliffe Terrace are vacant. They were most recently home to a café and wellness centre, with an associated car park and hardstanding courtyard. The adjacent building at 43 Ratcliffe Terrace remains in use as a barber shop.

The proposed development aims to activate the street frontage along Ratcliffe Terrace with a covered entrance and wider pavement area. The commercial unit on the ground floor will be retained to maintain community interaction at street level.

A central courtyard will serve as the focal point of the scheme, offering access to indoor communal amenities. Accessible studio apartments will be located on the lower ground floor to provide step-free access to shared facilities.

The site is L-shaped and includes a noticeable gap in the urban fabric where tenement buildings once stood. The plan includes provisions for 58 bicycle parking spaces, with no car parking proposed—reflecting a commitment to encouraging sustainable modes of transport.