<p>We are forming a petition to give to the planning committee of Plymouth City Council reference the conversion of the old retail unit known as Derry's at the lower end of Royal Parade.</p><p>The onset of a possible 500 student flats being set into the main shopping area of Plymouth is neither beneficial to the regeneration of the retail sector or the tourist sector trying to attract more tourism into the city.</p><p>The belief that turning retail units into student accommodation, will free up housing stock already secured by students is not a viable option. Landlords who already have HMO licences will not simply turn their houses back into general accommodation and lose possibly tens of £1000's.</p><p>The financial loss of business rates to the council combined with another sector of Plymouth not contributing any council tax soon starts to measure up.</p><p>The only people to gain from this will be the developers and Plymouth University</p><p>NOT the city centre</p><p>NOT the tourism board</p><p>NOT the people of Plymouth</p><p>The regeneration of retail units promised by the developers has already been stated as convenience stores....for example Tesco Metro or Sainsbury Local etc</p><p>NOT small independent traders...NOT a major retail chain such as John Lewis or Ikea</p><p>The city centre is by its very nature a place of combined retail units in a cluster...NOT an extension of a university campus. Plymouth City council are allowing the University to extend further into the city at all angles. YES they provide income for many people BUT at what cost to the city centre. Once we have lost these retail units to student accommodation...they will never return to retail.</p><p>Look around the city now and see how far student accommodation is reaching.....there is more to Plymouth than just a University.......</p><p> </p><p>PLEASE save Plymouth city centre from mass building of student accommodation</p><p> </p>
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