DURHAM could get another 800 student beds if two schemes together worth £80m get the go-ahead after Easter.

Both Student Castle’s £50m plan to build 445 beds on lower Claypath and Peveril Securities’ £31m scheme to create 363 at the former County Hospital, off North Road, have won over Durham County Council’s planners and are recommended for approval at a planning committee on Tuesday, April 7.

The planners’ backing for both has produced uproar among residents already angry at the spread of student accommodation across the city and prompted demands for a “call in” by the Secretary of State.

There is increasing unrest over the “frenzied” growth of purpose-built student accommodation, with planning permission approved for 2,000 new beds and another 2,000 in the pipeline.

With Durham University expecting to expand by only 500 students over the next five years, residents fear the city will be left with unsightly, inflexible accommodation for decades to come.

The university has objected to both these projects, as has the City of Durham Trust conservation group.

Student Castle wants to demolish the buildings at 18-29 Claypath, including Oldfields restaurant, and build 24 cluster flats and 310 studios, totalling 445 beds, plus a gym and small cinema.

Theirs would be a “zero car” development.

Student Castle says the project is conservation-led and it has a comprehensive management plan ready to run the accommodation itself.

Council officers say the scheme would not have an “unreasonably detrimental” effect on the area and would regenerate the site.

Peveril Securities and its partners want to convert the 1850s-built former mental hospital into 82 studios, demolish some later extensions and build two new blocks comprising 281 flats, plus a student hub.

The scheme has been scaled back slightly, from 398 beds, since it was rejected by councillors last July, with one block reduced by one storey.

However, there have still been 130 objections and opponents include English Heritage, the Crossgate Community Partnership and three county councillors.

Two people have written in support, saying students living in purpose-built accommodation would free up city centre houses for permanent residents.

The developers say Durham needs more student accommodation, their scheme would refurbish the original hospital buildings and the development would be managed by an experienced firm, Victoria Hall.

Council planners say its benefits and harm are “very finely balanced” but come down in support overall.

Both schemes will be debated when the county planning committee meets at County Hall, Durham, on Tuesday, April 7, at 1pm.