MULTI-million pound plans to build accommodation for hundreds of students on a laundry site have been submitted.

Edinburgh-based County Properties (Northern) Group first announced its intention to build a student village on the Berendsen laundry site, off the A167 at Neville’s Cross, Durham City, last summer.

A slightly scaled back scheme, reducing the bed numbers from 395 to 336, has now been forwarded to Durham County Council for outline planning permission.

A compulsory consultation process has now begun and residents have until Wednesday, February 11, to comment on the scheme – more details of which can be found online at durham.gov.uk/planning, using the reference DM/14/03787/OUT.

The “eco village” would feature en-suite rooms in cluster flats with a shared kitchen and dining and living areas on the frontage near the A167; larger en-suite studio flats with kitchens, again near the A167; and three- to four-storey townhouses set further back on the site.

There would also be communal areas, 44 car parking spaces and storage for 140 bicycles.

The laundry, also known as Sunlight, would be demolished, with the firm moving to larger premises in Meadowfield.

In a supporting statement, Leeds-based agent GWP Architects says the development would be highly sustainable with low energy and water consumption.

The accommodation would be attractive, appropriate for the setting and managed by a specialist company and the variety on offer would create a viable community, it continues.

However, the site is sensitive – lying between the Durham green belt and conservation area and near the site of the 1346 Battle of Neville’s Cross.

Also, there is widespread concern about the proliferation of large-scale, purpose built student accommodation blocks, including at Kepier Court, Renny’s Lane, Magdalene Heights, Mount Oswald and The Gates.

Earlier this month, Student Castle submitted plans to build accommodation for 440 students at lower Claypath and last week feelings ran high as around 150 people packed a public meeting to debate the wider issue.

Shopkeeper Peter Jackson said students were away more than half the year; while residents Janet Gill questioned how student accommodation could be described as regeneration.

Conservative parliamentary candidate Rebecca Coulson said the council was letting Durham down by not having a robust plan to deal with the issue.

The decision whether to grant planning permission is likely to be taken by a council committee this spring.