A DECISION is due to be made next week on arrangements for a new student bar at the centre of a residential estate.

The licensing application has been made by Durham University’s Ustinov College for its new home at Sheraton Park, in the Neville’s Cross area of the city.

The redevelopment of the former New College buildings at the centre of the estate is almost complete and is due to open to postgraduate students ahead of the coming academic year.

Neville’s Cross Community Association decided not to either support or object to the application, but have asked councillors from Durham County Council’s licensing committee to make the decision to discuss the conditions so a precedent can be set for other student bars in residential areas.

They have asked that there is a strict limit of two guests per resident to the college, especially if the nearby student accommodation on the Berendsens Laundry site does not have a bar, to prevent other students from using the facility.

The college has applied for licensed premises with capacity for 300 people, to operate between 7.30pm and 11pm Monday to Friday and between 2pm and 11pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

It has also asked for extended opening hours to 2am or no more than six occasion a year to allow it to put on music events.

The bar has asked for permission to allow off-sales, which would mean students could buy drinks to take back to their rooms.

The association has asked for the application for off-sales to be declined, which has been backed by Neville’s Cross councillor Liz Brown.

She said: “This is a residential area. The two college buildings have planted open space in front which is open to the public.

“This was envisaged as a tranquil community area with seating and public art. One of the reasons for not introducing a beer garden was to preserve this tranquillity. The application for off sales now presents the contradiction of bar customers not being allowed outside with an open bottle but fine to leave the premises with one that is capped.”

A decision is due to be made at a meeting on Tuesday at County Hall in Durham.

Meanwhile, planning permission has been granted for a two-storey block at Ustinov’s old home at Howlands Farm, which will be used to provide a temporary home for John Snow College during its move from the university’s Stockton campus.

In the long-term it will be used for flexible study and meeting spaces for Stephenson College, which is also moving from Stockton.