RESIDENTS are preparing to fight £15m plans to build another 200 student rooms in Durham city centre.

Gilltown, a Dorset-based developer, wants to build 211 rooms, a mix of “cluster flats” and studios, on the Kepier Court site, off Gilesgate.

The accommodation would comprise three-storey townhouses and would be managed by an accredited firm with a “proven track record”.

The 1960s buildings on the site would be demolished but Kepier House, a former prison, would be retained and converted.

The plans were exhibited recently at the Gala Theatre and Gilltown managing director Paul Gillespie said the issues raised were being reviewed.

The project website, gilltown.co.uk/kepiercourt, says “full consideration” will be given to the needs of neighbours and the local community.

Bill Williamson, of nearby Mayorswell Close, said residents would fight the scheme on the grounds of its scale and impact on amenity.

“We all want development because what we’ve got is ugly and corrosive. But we want appropriate development.

“But my main objection is about studentification.

“It is in the long-term interests of the city that we reverse the student colonisation of urban space and family homes,” he said.

There was previously postgraduate accommodation at Kepier and the new development would also be aimed at older students.

The site has stood unused for some years and buildings have fallen into disrepair. Much asbestos would have to be removed prior to redevelopment.

Previously, plans to build 43 flats and houses were approved following a public inquiry, but the project fell victim to the credit crunch.

The Gilltown proposals come at a time of heightened tension over the spread of student accommodation.

Last week the planning inspector overseeing the County Durham Plan examination in public ordered Durham County Council to rethink its student housing policy.

Stuart Timmiss, the council’s head of planning and assets, said the authority has since prepared a set of policy notes based on experience elsewhere, ready for a meeting with interested parties tomorrow (Friday) and a new policy would be submitted by the inspector’s deadline of next Friday (November 14).

Near Kepier, Student Castle has a £50m scheme to build accommodation for 440 students on Claypath and Ashcourt Properties has approval for a £4.5m scheme for 198 beds at Magdalene Heights, off Gilesgate roundabout.

Gilltown representatives have held talks with the council and the website says “the planners are to support our planning application”.

Mr Gillespie said this referred to pre-application advice.

He said the firm was “not remotely ready” to submit a planning application, but hoped to do so before Christmas and have the accommodation ready for September 2016.