PLANS have been submitted to demolish a building in Bournemouth to make way for block of more than 200 student units amid claims that the town has an insufficient amount of purpose-built student accommodation to cater for its student population.

Hendy House, at Christchurch Road, is currently home to HSS Hire - a supplier of tools and equipment. A spokesman for HSS Hire said they have only four years remaining on their lease for the building and are actively looking to relocate to different premises.

The building is set to be torn down and replaced with a seven-storey block of 213 flats provided that the applicant - specialist student accommodation developer Victoria Hall Management Limited - is successful with its application.

The new development would be made up of studios, two, three, four and five bed clusters, with a basement, provision for two car parking spaces, cycle storage and landscaping.

In the application's design and access statement the applicant said: "There is a pressing need for new student accommodation in Bournemouth. The town is a renowned destination for students. It boasts two universities with a student population of 21,210, of which 16,670 are full time (Source: HESA 2014/15).

"Bournemouth University has embarked on an ambitious expansion programme at both their Talbot and Lansdowne Campus sites. The university has proposed a new gateway building at their St Paul’s site, next to the St Paul’s roundabout on the Wessex Way, to accommodate their faculty of health and social sciences.

"However, the number of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) beds in the town has not increased to meet the growing student demand.

"Approximately 4,158 PBSA beds are available in Bournemouth for 16,670 full time students (excluding the HMOS managed by Bournemouth University – Student Village and Unilet).

"On this basis, approximately 12,500 students are unable to access PBSA, reflecting 75 per cent of full time students. This demonstrates strong demand for further PBSA provision in the town."

A spokesman for Bournemouth University confirmed that "the university has no involvement with this developer and is unable to comment on their plans".

The Arts University had failed to respond to requests for comment at the time of going to press.

Hendy House forms part of the East Cliff Conservation Area of which the building has been deemed to play "a very limited role".