The council have drawn up proposals which would give it more power to turn down student housing developments. The idea was put forward by mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, to control the number and scale of purpose-built accommodation blocks.

Under the policy, developments would not be given approval if their height or density did not fit in with the surrounding homes.

If the policy is adopted, developers will also have to prove that the student rooms are needed – and why this need is not already being met elsewhere.

A report from the planning office says: “Some areas of the city have seen a large increase in the number of purpose built accommodation schemes in the recent past.”

It says the cumulative impact means that further schemes in these areas – to the west of Western Boulevard and to the south of Jarrom Street and Grasmere Street – are “unlikely to be considered acceptable”.

Many residents approve of the policy, but some said it was too little too late.

The supermarket chain’s application to sell alcohol at a planned store in the former Page and Moy building, in London Road, was turned down by Leicester City Council at a licensing hearing yesterday.

Hari Dhiman, who runs a convenience store in Highfield Street, near the proposed new store, as well as an off-licence on the opposite side of London Road, with his brother, Dev, said: “Sense has prevailed.

“I was at the meeting and made representations. I told the people there was no way this should be allowed here.

“Over the years, we in the community have made great steps to try to beat the menace of street drinking which plagued the area.

“There was a time when people were subjected to drinkers urinating or vomiting or taking drugs on their doorstep.

“We have managed to clean this up and do not want to go back there again.”

Almost 40 residents, nine business and two ward councillors sent letters of objection to the committee ahead of yesterdays meeting asking them to refuse the application. The local police also summited a request of objection.

The plans would see a new criminal offence of tenancy fraud, with a fine of up to £50,000 also possible.

Officials estimate that 160,000 tenants sub-let their homes to other people at cost of £5bn a year to the taxpayer.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said some people were cheating the system by earning thousands of pounds letting out their council homes at market rents.

A disused art deco public toilet in Leicester is set to be transformed into a cafe and delicatessen.

The building in St Margaret’s Way, near Abbey Park, was put up for sale in May by the city council for £20,000 – having been empty for several years.

City council valuer David Robinson at the disused toilets which businessmen are hoping to convert

Now, three city businessmen have bought the 80-year-old building and lodged plans to convert it into an eaterie and extend it.

Peter Silk, who is one of the partners in the project, said in the planning application: “The site is unoccupied and in a state of disrepair.

“It is the intention to rejuvenate the structure and provide a more functional use that would better serve the community.”

The council received several offers for the run down building which is daubed in graffiti – but the total paid for it has not been revealed.

The three businessmen are planning to build a single-storey extension on the site, which is 10 minutes walk from the city centre.

The conversion has been welcomed heritage experts and visitors to Abbey Park and the nearby sports pitches.

Clothing and equipment store JC Sports has been in Belgrave Gate, Leicester, for 20 years, and record shop 2Funky in the street for 15 years.

Vijay Mistry, managing director of urban music specialist 2Funky, said customers had told him it would be “like a funeral” for them when the shop shuts its doors on Saturday, February 5.

Mr Mistry, who set up the shop in 1997, said: “It’s definitely the end of an era.

“It’ll be a sad day but I think people could see it coming.

“We’d been holding on for as long as we could but it’s time to go now.”

The OBR also predicted that house prices would rise at levels above inflation from the same year, reaching annual growth of 4.5% in 2015-16.

The forecasts accompanied the chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

Sales have been at comparatively low levels during the period of economic turmoil, owing in part to lenders’ caution when handing out mortgages, buyers’ worries about their jobs, and sellers’ unwillingness to reduce asking prices.

The latest figures from HM Revenue & Customs showed that 76,000 homes were sold in October, which was 1,000 more than in September, but still 3,000 fewer than in October last year.

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 It will be part of a scheme to deal with a shortage of affordable homes and the people who are unable to get a mortgage.

 It includes a £400m fund which aims to kick-start schemes in England which are ready but lack necessary finance.

Plans have now been drawn up for a new development of homes, a supermarket and industrual units on a former car sales site.  Auctioneers Manheim want to redevelop its huge eight-acre premises in Shepshed, after moving from the town last year.

If the plans are approved, it would provide the town it’s fourth largest supermarker. Just two years ago there was only a small Co-Op but then a Tesco open and now Asda is on its way.

Some residents say they fear the town, with its 15,000 strong population, cannot sustain so many larger shops without forcing independent traders out.