Durham, New Kepier Court

Show flat opened and proving popular with students.

Project continues to be on programme, for completion in June 2017.

The proposed development will comprise 214 student bedrooms in a mix of cluster flats and studios (including accessible rooms).

Gilltown has selected an expert team of consultants to help them work with the council and community to deliver the best possible development. It is crucial that full consideration is made of the needs of our neighbours and the local community as a whole.

An accredited firm of Accommodation Managers with a proven track record in the industry will be appointed for the Kepier Court scheme.

The proposed development site is currently a fenced off area surrounding Kepier Court, to the north of Bakehouse Lane and to the west of Mayorswell Close, Durham. The site is less than a kilometre from the main campus of Durham University and the main shopping areas within the City. The site falls steeply along a south / north axis with a level change of approximately 7.5m from Bakehouse Lane to the northern site boundary.

The majority of the eleven existing buildings are of little architectural merit, with the exception of Kepier House. The building is not listed but the development site is located within the Durham City Conservation Area.

The proposed development for Kepier Court is a carefully considered student accommodation scheme which aims to develop a redundant brownfield site while remaining sensitive to Kepier House, the site itself and the surrounding context - both suburban and historical.

The configuration of the scheme has been generated in response to a number of factors, principally:

The refurbishment of Kepier House
Existing site topography
Immediate residential context

The development comprises of circa 214 new bedspaces in total across the site. The accommodation will be provided through the construction of new buildings and the conversion of Kepier House.

The scheme will provide approximately 2,500m2 of amenity space, which integrates existing trees and planting with new hard and soft landscaped areas. The focal point of the scheme is a central courtyard garden area in front of Kepier House.

The proposals aim to allow the retention of as many of the existing trees on the site as possible.

Construction will commence in early 2019 for a summer 2020 completion.