An award-winning architect has unveiled his innovative vision for the future of student accommodation in the city.

These exclusive images reveal plans for more than 550 apartments and rooms to be built on the derelict Peugeot garage site on Canterbury’s ring road.

Guy Hollaway, designer of the Rocksalt restaurant in Folkestone harbour, says the block will offer accommodation comparable to a five star hotel.

His high-end apartments are aimed at attracting residents for the duration of their studies, he says, and could lure students away from traditional landlord digs in residential areas.

Designed around two communal quads, the building would boast self-contained suites each with double beds, living areas and kitchens as well as a gym on the ground floor.

Mr Hollaway said: “This is something very different from traditional halls of residence and it offers an alternative to renting from landlords in the city.

“What’s changing now is that students don’t want grotty digs anymore. Because they’re funding their studies and taking on a lot of debt to do so, many approach their studies like young professionals.

“This is high end. The idea is to create a building for young professionals where they can live but study as well.”

The proposals will be officially unveiled to the public today.

The developer, a consortium called Canbury Holdings, is due to submit its plans to the city council in December.

If approved, construction could begin as early as next year and apartments could be offered to students from all three of the city’s universities.

Mr Hollaway says that if fewer students seek accommodation in residential areas, the trend for family homes to be “carved up” into houses of multiple occupancy (HMO) could be reversed.

“People used to think of Canterbury as a Cathedral city. Now they think of it as a university city. There are over 30,000 students here. But while other cities have been able to expand, Canterbury has not been able to expand significantly, in terms of residential building.

“By creating high-quality student accommodation, this can go towards reversing the HMO trend.”

The scheme is likely to be welcomed by some, but not by all.

The 563 apartments will add to more than 400 student units built for Christ Church University directly behind the Peugeot site.

David Kemsley, a member of the Oaten Hill Society’s committee, said: “I don’t speak for the whole society, but I am concerned about the number of brownfield sites being converted into student accommodation.

“I would like the institutions to be open about what their future plans for student numbers are.

“It seems we have the optimum balance for student numbers to local population at the moment.

“But we have to remember that every new student is likely to need accommodation for three years.”

The scheme will be open to view today, tomorrow and Sunday at Augustine House.