A new student accommodation build has been successfully completed in Durham three weeks ahead of schedule.

The Rushford Court accommodation is a 362-bed development which incorporates a former Victorian hospital.

The original 1850's Durham County Hospital Harding building was restored and modernised for its new purpose. The building now houses a range of studio apartments and amenities including: a gym, cinema room, co-study areas and communal entertainment space. Two, modern, purpose-built accommodation wings have replaced the redundant 1970's buildings on the hospital site. 

The development was delivered by Sladen Estates alongside Peveril Securities and Helios Properties.

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Chief executive at Sladen Estates, Nick Sladen said: "We are delighted to have completed this stunning development ahead of schedule for Unite Students. This is a significant scheme for Durham on a site with a great deal of local heritage and we are exceptionally happy with the finished development.

"We have revitalised a gateway site to the city whilst also providing much needed student accommodation to relieve some of the pressure on the local housing stock."

The development is owned and operated by Unite Students, the UK's largest and most established manager and developer of purpose-built student accommodation which operates more than 50,000 beds across the country.

Matt Painter of Unite Students added: "We have seen excellent take up so far which is testament to the quality of services on offer and there is no doubt that Rushford Court offers the best accommodation available in Durham.

"From our first glimpse of the site and the proposed scheme we knew it would attract a great deal of positive attention, and the finished scheme has realised an even better vision than the plans displayed."

A video of the complete scheme is available below:

(CM/MH)