Hopes student accommodation will cut need for HMOs

The student flats proposal was approved by Durham County Council

Plans for student accommodation have been approved with hopes it will prevent family homes in a city being converted into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

The scheme is the final part of a development project in Durham's Mount Oswald area, which will also have hundreds of residential homes, office space, retail sites and buildings for community use.

The 93-bed student properties will be built directly opposite two large campuses belonging to Durham University.

Campaigners in the area have repeatedly called for stricter planning powers to ensure residential homes are not converted into HMOs.

The university's South College and John Snow College have approximately 1,000 students living there during term time.

Developer Banks Group previously said the student housing would "meet the needs of Durham University".

"The fact this is happening will hopefully reduce the conversion of family homes to HMOs," said Green Party councillor Jonathan Elmer, of Durham County Council's Brandon ward.

Supermarket chain Asda is expected to take on the running of a shop unit

However, he also warned students across the city faced paying "an astonishing amount of money for their rent" and called for accommodation complexes to be cheaper.

He told a planning committee meeting: "It's a shame that the cost of these rooms means this student accommodation is targeted at the wealthier students.

"What we need is more affordable accommodation somewhere in the city."

Work is expected to start on the site later this year and Asda looks set to open a convenience shop as part of the development, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor David Freeman, Liberal Democrat for Elvet, Gilesgate and Shincliffe, described the retail unit as "a gold mine".

He added: "It will be very welcomed by students but also residents in Mount Oswald and the Merryoaks estates and will benefit residents who don't have to drive somewhere else to do their shopping."