Office building to be torn down for student rooms

A vacant town centre office building in Surrey is to be torn down to make way for 128 students bedrooms with retail space below.

The Axon building in Church Road, Egham, will be demolished and replaced with a five-storey building.

However, none of the 70 onsite car parking spots will be available for Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL) students.

The plans, approved at a Runnymede Borough Council meeting on Wednesday, aim to deliver "much-needed" digs for students and help reduce demand for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in the town.

The university is backing the proposal, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) says.

"RHUL recognises the continuing demand for, and benefit of good value, good quality, well-located student housing that meets the needs of their students," the planning application papers read.

The university added the accommodation would provide a "safe and supportive environment" for students.

Council officers said the site was in a "highly sustainable town centre location".

However, some councillors argued a portion of the carpark should be allocated to students.

Isabel Mullens said she agreed with the university needing more accommodation but was critical of the car parking arrangement where all the 70 spaces were to be given to the retail store and none to the students.

Officers said proximity to the station made the site accessible and they did not want to encourage students parking at the site, in order to keep traffic flowing freely.

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