A large new rental apartment scheme in the heart of Sheffield has been given planning permission by the city council.

Named The Meridian, the development will involve the construction of a 23-storey apartment buildings, providing 336 new homes with one, two or three bedrooms. There will be 94 private balconies.

Other features include a large ground-floor amenity space with concierge and reception, co-working space, and a resident’s only lunge and gym. There will also be a landscaped roof garden and plaza that fronts onto the adjacent Queen’s Road.

The development will provide cycle storage for 358 bikes but parking space for just 29 cars, based on the assumption that the location on the corner of Farm Road and Queen’s Road will enable residents to rely on public transport.

This will be possible due to the proximity of Sheffield Station, which is served by both mainline rail and the city’s Supertram network and the Granville Road / Sheffield College tram stop, which will be even closer.

Head of Residential Capital Markets at Godwin Developments James Mulcare said: “The Meridian is a well-located scheme of exceptional design quality shaped around the requirements and lifestyles of city centre residents.”

He added: “It emphasises wellbeing, light, natural materials and finishes, as well as access to private and shared outdoor space and community focused amenities.”

Mr Mulcare concluded: “We are confident it will be a popular choice among residents of various age groups - and an attractive proposition for investors.”

The development is just the latest of several that have made central Sheffield a major boom area for crane hire in Yorkshire.

Like many other city centres, the concept of city centre living has taken off in recent years, particularly among students and young professionals who can enjoy the benefits of being close to work, places of study and leisure without needing to make lengthy commutes.

At the same time, some cities have also been able to offer enhanced access to public transport through the development of modern light rail systems. Sheffield has had this since the 1990s, something other major Yorkshire cities like Leeds and Bradford have still not managed to establish.

These developments have been reflected in the city centre population figures, with ONS estimates of the population of the City Ward - where the Meridian will be located, rising from 5,534 in 2001 to over 31,000 by 2019.

While Sheffield does not have a lot of notable tall buildings, the recent boom in residential construction has seen some arise, with nine of the 17 highest being completed since 2008. The list is topped by the 32-floor St Paul’s Tower, which at 101 metres (331 ft) is the one building tall enough to officially be classed as a skyscraper.

The Meridian will not be that high, but, according to senior development manager at Godwin Developments Ketan Patel, the new tower will be “a landmark building that is simple and effective in design and adds positively to the city’s new skyline,” offering a strong “focal point” in the city centre.

For Godwin, the latest development adds to its Yorkshire commitments, having recently gained planning permission to build 60 new homes for rent in Doncaster.