HUNDREDS of students could be housed in accommodation along the River Tees in plans which have raised a debate.

A block of student accommodation, capable of taking up to 300 residents, has been recommended for approval by Stockton planning officers.

But a report to the planning committee suggests the site is in a gateway position in Stockton, close to the Victoria Bridge, and a building of high quality should be considered.

Planners have also recommended that councillors impose conditions which will force the developer to hand over more than £60,000. The money will go towards pedestrian improvements at the signals of Boathouse Lane, public transport upgrades and improvements to the riverside footpath and cycleway. The proposed building will be on the town's Bridge Road, on the former SCS furniture store site, which has been demolished.

It will stand close to the Grade II listed booking office of the Stockton to Darlington Railway, and a similar historic building, which is now a hostel.

The outline application will seek permission for the plans, with design, external appearance and landscaping reserved for a future submission.

In a report to the committee, Tees Valley Regeneration requests that the council contacts the University of Durham for a response on the need for additional student accommodation in this area.

The report adds: "The site occupies an important riverside location and forms part of the larger site, known as Boathouse Lane. Given this, the council has prepared a planning and design brief to guide future development on the site and surrounding area.

"Importantly, the brief seeks to deliver a high quality and commercially successful mixed use development for the area through an established masterplan and agreed design principles."

It goes on to say that, with a masterplan in mind, councillors will have a say in the design and final look of the development.

The applicant states in the report that the scheme will act as a catalyst for further redevelopment of the Boat-house Lane area with associated regeneration benefits for the whole of Stockton.

The scheme go before Stockton Council planning committee on Wednesday.