A NEW restaurant and gym are the latest proposed additions to ambitious plans for a student village in Burnley.

Supporters say the eaterie, situated at the main entrance of the existing Kingsway House, will be one of the main focuses of the venture by East Lancashire Regeneration Ltd.

Planning approval has already been forthcoming, subject to legal agreements over cycling provisions, to convert the main building into a 126-bedroom complex with associated shops and offices.

And outline bids to build two adjoining accommodation blocks, at either end of Kingsway House, were also successful.

One will have a pub on the ground and first floors and the other will also feature a restaurant development.

It is hoped that the scheme will entice students currently undertaking courses at the Burnley UCLan campus and those attending the University College of Football Business, based at Turf Moor.

The developers feel it is only natural that, taking into account the age profile of their target market, sporting and catering facilities are incorporated into the overall design.

Planning agent Alan Kinder said in a report: “Given the number of people who will eventually reside on site and the site’s close relationship to the town centre then an extension of the range of services available on site would logically include gym facilities.”

He has told council planners that they have already been approached by a ‘national operator’ interested in running a gym in the building’s basement.