Singapore’s largest property development company, Far East Orchard Plc, is getting ready to construct the final phase of the Portland Green Student Village on Portland Road.

The application for the final phase outlines plans to erect a five-to-eight storey block of student accommodation made up of 41 studio apartments and 64 six-bedroom clusters, as well as associated communal facilities, landscaping, and refuse storage and plant room.

The initial construction on the Portland Green Student Village began in 2011 and the first phase was completed in time for the 2013/14 academic year, with the 274 luxury student bedrooms being fully let within days of public release.

The work on phase two began straight away, adding another accommodation building with 338 bedrooms and 4,500 square foot of commercial space, and was open in time for the 2015/2016 academic year.

Phase three is currently under construction and is set to be ready in time for the 2017/2018 academic year, with the final phase on track to be ready the following year.

ID Partnership, who are acting on behalf of Far East Orchard, said, “our concept allows fir^st year students to remain within purpose-built student accommodation housing throughout their university careers, lessening the requirement and impact of student demand on HMO housing, which could otherwise be used for family occupation.”

This could come as a welcome relief to residents of Jesmond amid an ever-increasing student population. Purpose-built student accommodation near the city centre is what some have previously called for as a way to alleviate the problem and the result could be a decline in Jesmond’s student population.

Though there will undoubtedly be critics of even more student accommodation being built in the city, the site had stood empty for over 11 years before construction began. “We consider that the scheme design and quality of materials has led to improved street frontages and phased development in the Shieldfield area and brought life back into a derelict inner-city area.”

Once Portland Green Student Village has been completed there will be accommodation for some 1,469 students and a plethora of amenities including cafes, restaurants, a health centre, offices, and car parking.