Member Article

Hartlepool’s £2.2 million art student accommodation unveiled

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham helped to officially open Housing Hartlepool’s first £2.2 million student accommodation for Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) students.

The event celebrated the development carried out at the Crown Hall apartments by Housing Hartlepool, which is part of Thirteen Group, and construction company, Gus Robinson Developments.

Housing Hartlepool is the landlord for the student accommodation, which is made up of two apartment blocks, housing 21 students each, as well as two town houses, for seven students each.

Located close to the college’s Church Square Campus, the two spacious apartment blocks are situated on Surtees Street following the regeneration of a long-disused site.

The development, designed by architects JDDK, also includes four bedrooms fully-adapted for people with disabilities and other bedrooms that can be adapted.

Students benefit from high-speed data links, bike storage and ensuite shower rooms in the apartments, which are welcoming learners from across the UK.

Externally, the apartment blocks have secure outdoor space, with parking spaces and centrally shared gardens, designed to create communal areas.

The development has been constructed to be highly energy-efficient and has solar panels fitted to the roof.

At the event, the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Sue Snowdon, joined guests to unveil a commemorative plaque in the development’s private garden.

Invited guests also heard from Julie Clarke, Chair of Housing Hartlepool and Cath Purdy, Deputy Chief Executive of the Thirteen Group, who spoke about new development as well as CCAD’s Principal, Martin Raby who spoke about CCAD’s multi-million regeneration programme of the college’s campus.

Deputy Chief Executive of the Thirteen Group, Cath Purdy, said: “This is a fantastic development, which highlights both the quality of new housing being delivered by Housing Hartlepool and Cleveland College of Art & Design’s commitment to providing its students with the best possible facilities.

“We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with the college.”