Demolition of the former Mecca Bingo Hall on Fishergate has started, to make way for 276 student flats.

City of York Council gave planning approval in February for the brownfield site.

Site owners York-based property firms Grantside and North Star have appointed Leeds-based Demolition Services Ltd to dismantle the building to allow Olympian Homes to build the flats.

Steve Davis, CEO of Grantside, said: “This is a key landmark of the project to transform this site into a high-quality development, befitting of such an important gateway location into York City Centre.”

The demolition and enabling works - expected to take 15 weeks - will then allow an extensive archaeological dig to take place, before the scheme can be built.

It includes 276 student bedrooms, landscaping and extensive bicycle parking. To celebrate the previous heritage on the site, the new building will be called Rialto House, after the famous cinema and venue that was on the site before it was demolished to make way for the bingo hall.

The student accommodation is expected to have its first residents living there in September 2024.