PEOPLE are being invited to have their say on a new student housing development planned for Durham City.

A new application for accommodation for 59 students is expected to be submitted to Durham County Council within the next couple of weeks.

Anthony Keith Architects is putting on an exhibition to display its plans for an empty and derelict site in Holly Street, in the viaduct area of the city.

The proposal is for accommodation for 59 students in a mixture of studio flats and six-bedroom flats on Nelsons Yard, which backs onto John Street.

The area, which occupies one side of Holly Street, was described as an “eyesore” by architect Tony Keith.

He said: “It’s on a badly neglected urban site that’s been a bit of an eyesore for years and I think it will fit in quite nicely.

“It’s in an area popular with students because it’s within walking distance of the city centre and we’ve designed it to fit in with the houses there about. We hope it will be a scheme that helps to take the pressure of housing in Durham.

“We believe the locals are getting fed up with the number of students living in houses in the city centre so if we can provide some purpose built student accommodation we think that’s serving a need.”

Mr Keith added that the new buildings would be similar to the rest of the housing in Holly Street.

A planning application for the development has not yet been submitted but is expected within two weeks of the exhibition, which is being held on Monday, July 11.

Drawings and further details of the scheme will be available at the Kingslodge Inn, Waddington Street, between 2pm and 6pm.

Mr Keith and developer Paul Thapar are attending to discuss the plans with residents and answer questions.

Mr Keith added: “We have consulted the planners and now we want to consult the local residents and get their views before we make the planning application.

“On Monday we will have the drawings and a display so they can see what the scheme. We hope anyone with concerns about the impact of the scheme will come along and see it and hopefully be reassured.”

According to a report produced by the City of Durham Trust this year, private developers have been given permission for 13 purpose-built student accommodation blocks in the last five years while there are more than 3,000 student beds currently approved.