The £11.5m project will provide about 460 state-of-the-art units for University of Northumbria students.

The development marks the second phase of student accommodation in the Camden Street area of the city, following the completion of 345 similar units.

Phase Two will be eight to 10 storeys high and includes 441 study bedrooms and 21 studio flats, each with their own en-suite facilities.

The bedrooms will be built in clusters of five, with a communal kitchen and lounge area.

Huge impact

Leading student accommodation specialists, Opal Property Group, chose Browne Smith Baker's innovative design as the option for student city-living.

Browne Smith Baker director, Alan Drewell, said the project will have a huge impact on university accommodation provision for Newcastle.

He said: "The new building will be in a very convenient location, next to the university's main campus and the Warner Brother Village Cinema.

"Students will also be able to access the university via the footpath link over the A167M."

Work on the Camden Street scheme is due to start in the Spring, in time for a September 2005 opening.