PLANS have been submitted for a £15m scheme to build another 200 student rooms in Durham.

Gilltown’s proposals to build studio and cluster flats on the Kepier Court site, off Gilesgate, first emerged last September.

Now the Dorset-based developer has filed a full planning application to Durham County Council for around 214 bedrooms.

Public consultation runs until Thursday, January 29, and a planning committee is expected to take a decision in the spring.

Gilltown wants to demolish all seven buildings on the 1.7-acre site except Kepier House, a former prison, which would be converted into a communal space, reception, laundry and offices.

Four new buildings are planned, of up to three-and-a-half storeys in height and comprising 98 bedrooms across 19 cluster flats of four to six rooms each and 116 self-contained studio flats.

It would be a “zero car” development, with just five parking spaces for staff and 42 bicycle spaces.

Gilltown managing director Paul Gillespie said: “We have designed what we believe to be high quality accommodation that will fit in well in its surroundings and hope that the planners agree.”

However, neighbour Bill Williamson said student accommodation was not the best use for the site, the development would be too large for the setting and residents would suffer noise and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Gillespie said Gilltown had consulted with residents and, as far as possible, taken account of their concerns.

Having previously said the accommodation would be managed by an accredited firm with a proven track record, he added: “We will be a responsible neighbour.

“Managing the students well and encouraging them to be good neighbours ensures a high student return rate and contented neighbours.”

The site was used as postgraduate accommodation for Ustinov College until 2005.

A 2006 scheme for 43 apartments and nine townhouses failed to win planning permission.

Mr Williamson said the residents were not “nimbys” and wanted the site to be developed but the proposals did not meet Durham’s housing needs.

However, Mr Gillespie said there was continuing growth in demand for additional postgraduate accommodation for Durham University.

Further details can be found online at durham.gov.uk/planning, using the reference DM/14/03713/FPA.

Gilltown hopes to have the accommodation ready for September 2016.

Nearby, 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.