Developers defend £20m plans to replace Durham Edwardian treasure with student digs
Developers have defended plans to tear down an Edwardian architectural landmark and build 400 student digs, saying a city needs the extra accommodation.
Alumno Developments says its £20m scheme to redevelop the historic former New College Durham site, in Neville’s Cross, Durham City, would meet an “overriding further demand” for student accommodation, create 160 jobs, bring millions into the economy and improve an area which has become derelict.
While the firm wants to maintain and extend the red-brick 1900s-built Neville House to form 233 bedrooms, it says saving neighbouring Sheraton House would make the project “unviable and unsustainable”, so it should be demolished to make way for a new 191-bedroom student block …