PLANS for a new auditorium and three storey high teaching block at York St John University could be approved at a meeting tomorrow night.

Under the proposals three blocks of student accommodation built in the 1960s facing Garden Street would be demolished to be replaced by the new creative centre.

This would include a 210-seat concert hall as well as rooms for courses including art and design, computer science, performance and media.

Planning documents say the university is the fastest-growing in the country and that student numbers have increased by 25 per cent since 2017 to more than 2,050. By 2020, the university expects to be home to 8,000 students.

They add that there is a rise in demand for courses in creative subjects.

The design of the auditorium originally included views of the Minster, but was changed in response to concerns about the appearance raised by residents.

A report prepared for City of York Council’s planning committee says there has been one letter of objection to the scheme from someone worried about the impact of the construction work.

The report adds: “York Civic Trust support the application. The 1960s accommodation blocks facing Garden Street are some of the low quality buildings and do not contribute to the setting of the listed buildings.

“York St John University considers the creative centre as a place to house events, exhibitions, film, musical and theatrical performance and a hub for small business growth in the culture and creative industries.

“The existing on-site campus student accommodation blocks contain 80 bedrooms in total. The applicants advise that these accommodation blocks are the lowest in demand and have been underutilised for a number of years. The quality of accommodation provided here is significantly poorer than in other student accommodation options provided by York St John University. The rooms contain shared facilities.”

It adds that there is other student accommodation available that will offset the loss of rooms.

The plans have been recommended for the assistant director to approve.